The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports has directed Hockey India to formally examine allegations of sexual harassment and intimidation raised by former India women's hockey captain Asunta Lakra, who has accused a Jharkhand-based coach of sexually harassing young female players and alleged that the federation's secretary general threatened her for speaking out. The ministry communicated its directive on 14 July through Hockey India President Dilip Tirkey.

What the Ministry Has Asked

In its communication to Hockey India, the ministry requested that Lakra's email be placed before the federation's Internal Complaints Committee (ICC), constituted under the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013. The ministry has also asked that the outcome of the ICC's deliberations be shared with it.

'It is requested that the issues raised in Ms. Asunta Lakra's email may be placed before the Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) constituted by Hockey India under the provisions of the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013, for its consideration and appropriate action, and the outcome of the same may be shared with this Ministry,' the official communication reads.

The Allegations Against the Jharkhand Coach

Lakra has identified the accused coach as Sudhir Gola, originally from Telangana, who was appointed by the government to oversee a training centre in Jharkhand and managed the team for roughly one to two years. Lakra said she and her husband had worked alongside him during that period, initially dismissing earlier complaints about his conduct.

'Earlier, several people raised concerns about him, but we did not believe them. There were disputes about his behaviour, and we defended him because we had no idea what was happening behind the scenes,' Lakra said. She added that the truth began to surface only after an internal inquiry was initiated, with some players finding the courage to speak while others remained silent out of fear.

'When the internal committee began questioning the players, some spoke while others stayed quiet. Many players had faced inappropriate behaviour but were not ready to come forward. Once one or two players found the courage to speak, it became clear that the allegations were true,' she said.

Allegations of Intimidation Against Hockey India Official

Separately, Lakra has accused Hockey India Secretary General Bholanath Singh of threatening and intimidating her after she raised concerns about the welfare of women players. She alleged that those accused of misconduct were being shielded while those who highlighted the issue faced pressure to remain silent.

Lakra sent written complaints to the Jharkhand Sports Minister, the Chief Minister, the Sports Authority of India (SAI), Indian Olympic Association president P. T. Usha, Hockey India President Dilip Tirkey, and other authorities. She had specifically urged the SAI to constitute an independent inquiry against Sudhir Gola, and also sought an examination of whether existing safeguard mechanisms had functioned effectively or had been compromised.

Bholanath Singh has denied the allegations, calling them baseless and part of a conspiracy.

Why the Ministry's Response Raises Questions

Notably, Lakra had explicitly sought an independent inquiry — not one conducted by Hockey India itself. By directing the matter to the federation's own ICC, the ministry has, in effect, handed the probe back to the body whose official stands accused of intimidation. Critics argue this approach risks a conflict of interest and falls short of the independent oversight Lakra had demanded. This is not the first time allegations of harassment within Indian hockey's administrative structure have surfaced; the pattern of complaints being routed through internal mechanisms rather than independent bodies has drawn scrutiny in the past.

What Happens Next

The Hockey India ICC is now expected to take up the matter and report its findings to the ministry. Whether the federation will constitute a separate, independent inquiry — as Lakra demanded — or proceed solely through its internal committee remains to be seen. The case has drawn attention to broader questions about the effectiveness of workplace harassment redressal frameworks within Indian sports federations.