Indian hockey umpire and technical official Gurinder Singh Sangha has been sent home from the Asian Games in Japan. He was sent back after multiple complaints of alleged sexual misconduct during the event. A Hockey India official said the complaint was filed by a female official from Malaysia, and that he left two days earlier. Another report says he also allegedly misbehaved with a hotel staffer in Nagoya. The allegations remain unproven, and Sangha has denied them.
This is not the first time Sangha has faced such a complaint. During the 2025 Hockey India League in Ranchi, a female umpire complained against him, and Hockey India formed a three-member committee to investigate. The episode also adds to a difficult year for the sport, as Hockey India earlier removed a support staff member of the national women's team after harassment allegations were made against him.
Hockey Punjab president Nitin Kohli said he was aware of the reports and was verifying the information. The Tribune noted that the circumstances of Sangha's departure could not be independently verified. For now, the case turns on the AHF review. Complainants need to be heard, and the accused is entitled to respond, so the outcome of that process will determine what follows for Sangha and for Indian hockey's handling of misconduct complaints.
Cases like this highlight how seriously sporting bodies are expected to treat misconduct complaints at major multi-sport events. Games organizers and federations typically have processes for receiving complaints, reviewing the facts and deciding on any action. These reviews can take time, and the outcome often depends on the evidence and the findings of the governing body involved.
India is among the most decorated nations in Olympic field hockey, with eight gold medals, and the men's team has won bronze at both the Tokyo and Paris Olympics. The team also won gold at the most recent Asian Games before this edition, which keeps expectations high at continental events. Hockey India, the national governing body, runs the sport in the country, including the Hockey India League, and has worked in recent years to grow the women's game alongside the men's. With that profile, off-field controversies tend to draw close attention from fans and the media.
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