Ranchi, July 11: Former Indian women’s hockey captain Asunta Lakra has accused the Jharkhand State Association of neglecting sexual harassment complaints against a coach and intimidating those who raised concerns about the welfare of female players. Lakra, a former star athlete, stated that players were afraid to come forward despite the alleged misconduct persisting for a long time.
Lakra identified the coach as Sudhir Gola, who was appointed to oversee the Jharkhand Training Centre and managed the team for the past one to two years. During this time, she and her husband worked alongside him.
“The allegations are against Sudhir Gola, who is from Telangana. The government appointed him to oversee the training centre in Jharkhand, and he has been managing the team for the last year or two. My husband and I were also working with him. Initially, many expressed concerns about him, but we did not believe them. There were disputes over his behavior, and we defended him because we were unaware of what was happening behind the scenes,” Lakra explained.
She noted that the truth began to surface only after an internal investigation was initiated. Some players found the courage to speak out, while others remained silent out of fear.
“When the internal committee started questioning the players, some spoke up while others stayed quiet. Many players faced misconduct but were not ready to come forward. When one or two players found the courage to speak, it became clear that the allegations were true,” Lakra said.
Lakra also claimed to have evidence to support the allegations. “This is not just hearsay. I have audio recordings. If necessary, I can present them,” she asserted.
She mentioned that players reported several incidents that occurred during tournaments and while traveling with the team.
Some players referred to incidents during tournaments, including one that took place in Visakhapatnam and Rajgir. One player recounted that after a match, the coach called her while the team was traveling by bus and asked to meet her. “I cannot provide all the details, but that is what the player informed us,” Lakra added.
Lakra stated that the inappropriate behavior was not limited to travel. Similar conduct occurred during activities at the training centre. “During training centre programs, there were multiple instances where he ignored senior players and specifically called junior girls. Typically, experienced senior players take on responsibilities, but he continued to focus on junior girls,” she noted.
Questioning the coach’s behavior, Lakra remarked that his conduct during team meetings was inappropriate, defending her decision to raise these issues.
“During team meetings, when everyone stood together, he would place a hand on a junior girl’s shoulder. Is this appropriate behavior for a coach? Was it wrong for me to bring these issues to light? After representing the country for so many years, why would I make false accusations against anyone?” she asked.
Lakra also pointed out that many alleged victims are still hesitant to speak out due to fear. “My main concern is that no girl should have to endure anything wrong,” she emphasized.
The former player accused Hockey India Secretary General Bholanath Singh of threatening and intimidating her after she raised concerns about harassment faced by female players.
In written complaints sent to Jharkhand’s Sports Minister, Chief Minister, Sports Authority of India (SAI), Indian Olympic Association President P.T. Usha, Hockey India President Dilip Tirkey, and other authorities, Lakra alleged that those accused of misconduct are being protected while those who raise the issue are pressured to remain silent.
However, Bholanath Singh has denied the allegations, labeling them as baseless and part of a conspiracy.
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