Former India women's hockey captain Asunta Lakra has alleged that the Jharkhand state hockey association ignored complaints of sexual harassment against a coach, and that those who raised concerns about the welfare of women players were threatened into silence. Lakra made the allegations in Ranchi on 10 July, adding that many players remained too frightened to come forward even as the alleged misconduct reportedly continued over a prolonged period.

The Accused Coach and His Role

Lakra identified the coach in question as Sudhir Gola, originally from Telangana, who was appointed by the government to oversee the Jharkhand training centre and had managed the team for approximately one to two years. Lakra and her husband had worked alongside him during that period.

'The person facing these allegations is Sudhir Gola, who is from Telangana. The government appointed him to oversee the training centre in Jharkhand, and he has handled the team for the past one to two years. My husband and I were also working with him. 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.

How the Allegations Surfaced

According to Lakra, the truth began to emerge only after an internal inquiry was initiated. Some players found the courage to speak during the questioning, 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.

Lakra also claimed to possess audio recordings to support the allegations. 'This is not just hearsay. I have audio recordings. If needed, I can produce them,' she stated.

Incidents During Travel and at the Training Centre

Lakra alleged that inappropriate conduct was reported during tournaments — including events in Visakhapatnam and Rajgir — as well as while travelling with the team. She recounted one player's account of being called by the coach on the phone and asked to meet him while the team was on a bus after a match.

She further alleged that at the training centre, the coach repeatedly bypassed senior players and singled out junior girls for responsibilities and attention. 'Normally, experienced senior players would take on responsibilities, but he kept focusing on junior girls instead,' she said. Lakra also described the coach placing his hand on a junior player's shoulder during team meetings, calling the behaviour inappropriate for someone in his position. 'After representing the country for so many years, why would I make false accusations against anyone?' she asked.

Complaints Filed and Alleged Intimidation

Separately, Lakra has accused Hockey India secretary general Bholanath Singh of threatening and intimidating her after she raised the harassment concerns. She has submitted 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. In those complaints, she alleged that those accused of misconduct were being shielded while those who spoke up faced pressure to stay silent.

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

Players Still Reluctant to Speak

Lakra acknowledged that many alleged victims remain unwilling to go on record. 'Many players aren't speaking up because they're afraid. One player has been open about it. In another case, people suggest it might have been a personal relationship. I'm not denying that possibility, but my main concern is that no girl should endure anything wrong,' she said. The case has drawn attention to the broader challenge of protecting junior athletes from misconduct within state sports institutions, and is likely to intensify scrutiny of the Jharkhand hockey administration in the weeks ahead.