Asunta Lakra Claims Threat from Hockey India Official
Former India women's hockey captain Asunta Lakra has alleged that Hockey India secretary general Bhola Nath Singh threatened her after she raised concerns about alleged misconduct by Jharkhand coach Sudhir Gola towards female players. Lakra, who represented India at the 2006 and 2010 Commonwealth Games and the Asia Cup twice, stated that the threat occurred on May 9, 2026, around 7:00 or 8:00 PM while she was with her ailing father.
Details of the Alleged Threat
According to Lakra, Singh told her to "stay within your limits" during a nine-minute phone call. She expressed shock at the treatment, saying, "The way he spoke, I trembled for a while." Lakra questioned why she was being threatened for speaking up on behalf of players, highlighting her 14-15 years of playing for the country and 13 years as a national selector. She stated, "If I raise my voice for a player, will I get threats in return? Do I deserve this?"
Background of Misconduct Allegations
Lakra said she first brought the complaints against Sudhir Gola, coach at Jharkhand's Eklavya Centre, to Singh's attention hoping for an internal resolution. She noted, "I told him verbally, 'Sir, please look into it, I don't want to highlight it.'" However, she claimed that even after Gola was dismissed, he intimidated players by holding a late-night meeting at 11:00 PM, lining them up, and pressuring them to sign documents under threat of legal action. Lakra described the players as "scared and suppressed."
Player Complaints and Emotional Impact
Lakra recounted that one distressed player approached her crying, sharing concerns about the misconduct. The players also submitted written complaints. Lakra called it "unfortunate" that she faced threats despite her contributions to Indian hockey. She said, "A girl is crying, scared, and suppressed... After all this, the children have even given it in writing. After that, if I receive threats, what could be more unfortunate?"
