Indian hockey official sent back from Asian Games over sexual misconduct complaint
PTC News Desk: In a major embarrassment for India, hockey umpire and technical official Gurinder Singh Sangha has been reportedly sent back from the Asian Games in Japan following allegations of misconduct and sexual harassment.
Sangha was appointed as an umpire by the Asian Hockey Federation (AHF) for the games. The allegations and the circumstances surrounding his departure could not be independently verified.
Hockey Punjab president Nitin Kohli said he was aware of the reports and was verifying the information.
Meanwhile, Sangha has rejected all the allegations asserting that there have been disagreements at the beginning of the games and that he had already suggested that this would be his last event.
This is not the first complaint against Sangha. During the 2025 Hockey India League in Ranchi, a female umpire had also complained about him.
Hockey India later formed a three-member committee to investigate the allegations. However, a Hockey India official said the committee did not find enough evidence against Sangha.
An Indian Olympic Association official said that the matter was not related to either the IOA or Hockey India because umpires and technical officials for the Asian Games are appointed by the Asian Hockey Federation (AHF).
AHF officials in Nagoya declined to comment on the matter.
The latest complaint comes after another misconduct case in Indian hockey earlier this year. Hockey India had removed a member of the Indian women's team support staff following harassment allegations.
- PTC NEWS
