Gurinder Singh Sangha. File photo.
| Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
On field, the Indian women’s hockey team stepped out to create history against China and win the Asian Games for only the second time and the first since 1982. Off it, yet another international embarrassment rocked Indian hockey with Indian umpires manager Gurinder Singh Sangha being sent home following complaints of misbehaviour and harassment.
While the officials have been tight-lipped refusing to comment anything on the matter, sources confirmed a complaint was received against Sangha from one of the umpires officiating in the competition here.
In fact, there was another complaint against him from the hotel staff where the officials have been put up, allegedly of showing them immoral videos, threatening police complaint, which forced the tournament officials to take action.
“Yes Sangha has been sent back, he’s already gone home. There were complaints of him repeatedly harassing some foreign officials officiating here,” a senior official confirmed on conditions of anonymity.
This is not the first time Sangha, a physical education instructor at a government school in Jalandhar, has been involved in misdemeanour of this kind.
Last year during the Hockey India League, one of the woman umpires had officially complained to Hockey India against Sangha’s behaviour and physical harassment in Ranchi.
A three-member committee was also formed by Hockey India on the directions of secretary general Bholanath Singh but the matter was swept under. Interestingly, Asunta Lakra, one of the complainants against Bholanath, was one of the members of the committee.
“Yes there was a complaint and Sangha was removed from HIL at that time. The report was submitted to Bholanath Singh. HI should not have sent him to such a prestigious assignment given the past instance,” Asunta agreed.
The said umpire has since quit the profession and shifted base abroad.
Published – October 02, 2026 03:19 pm IST
