NAGOYA — The sporting world is reeling following a major breach of conduct at the 20th Asian Games, as high-ranking international hockey official Gurinder Singh Sangha has been forced to depart Japan ahead of schedule. Sangha, a Jalandhar-based umpire and technical official, found his position as Umpire Manager untenable after surfacing allegations of severe sexual misconduct threatened the integrity of the ongoing competition.
The Asian Hockey Federation (AHF) faced immediate pressure as reports emerged regarding Sangha’s interactions with fellow tournament staff. Sources close to the investigation allege that Sangha’s behavior crossed professional boundaries, creating an unsafe and hostile environment for those working alongside him.
Allegations of Misconduct in Nagoya
The catalyst for Sangha’s abrupt departure appears to stem from a disturbing incident involving a female hockey official representing Malaysia. According to multiple sources familiar with the internal investigation, Sangha allegedly utilized his role as a mentor to gain proximity to the victim before violating her personal space.
“On the pretext of mentoring and teaching her, he allegedly tried to hug her on multiple occasions and also kissed her,” a source stated. The severity of the interaction prompted an immediate report to the Malaysian umpire manager, signaling the start of a swift administrative response from AHF leadership.
Beyond the incident involving the Malaysian official, further reports have surfaced alleging that Sangha’s conduct extended to local service staff. Sources claim that Sangha behaved inappropriately toward a hotel staff member, allegedly subjecting her to obscene video content within his private quarters. While these secondary allegations currently await independent verification, they have added a layer of grave urgency to the ongoing inquiry into Sangha’s conduct during his tenure in Nagoya.
A Pattern of Behavioral Concerns
The controversy in Japan is far from an isolated incident. Sangha’s professional history has been under a cloud of suspicion since the start of 2025, when he served as Umpires’ Manager during the Hockey India League in Ranchi.
In January 2025, international umpire Yogita Pasi filed a formal complaint against Sangha, alleging that he engaged in “unwanted and inappropriate” conduct during an interaction at the team hotel. Pasi’s account described a professional environment rendered intolerable by Sangha’s advances, leading her to demand that Hockey India (HI) take decisive action to protect the dignity and safety of female officials.
In a prompt response to Pasi’s report, Hockey India Secretary General Bhola Nath Singh confirmed the federation had received the grievance and subsequently appointed a three-member panel, working in tandem with the federation’s Internal Complaint Committee for the Prevention of Sexual Harassment. While the specific findings of that inquiry have remained shielded from the public eye, the fact that a formal investigative body was established underscores the gravity with which the federation viewed the initial claims.
Hockey India Under Scrutiny
The removal of Sangha from the Asian Games roster arrives at a time when Hockey India is grappling with a broader systemic issue regarding the safety and security of its staff and players. In recent years, the governing body has faced a series of high-profile harassment complaints that have tested the resolve of its leadership.
Earlier this year, the federation acted to remove a support staff member from a national camp following a credible harassment claim, emphasizing a policy of “zero tolerance.” The narrative has been consistent throughout 2025 and 2026, with reports of misconduct ranging from abuses of authority to harassment allegations against coaches involved with junior women’s teams.
Most notably, during the inaugural Women’s Hockey India League, a coach was dismissed overnight following reports of harassment involving young athletes. These recurring incidents have placed the federation’s internal compliance mechanisms under the microscope, as stakeholders and fans alike demand a more rigorous vetting process for individuals appointed to positions of power.
The Road Ahead for AHF and Hockey India
The departure of an Umpire Manager in the middle of a prestigious international tournament like the Asian Games serves as a stark reminder of the work that remains to be done in fostering a culture of accountability in sports. As the Asian Hockey Federation moves forward, the scrutiny surrounding how Sangha was appointed to such a high-stakes role despite pending investigative history in India is expected to intensify.
For the victims, the focus remains on the assurance of safety and the pursuit of justice. For the sport of hockey, the challenge is clear: it must move beyond reactionary measures and establish a culture where the integrity of its officials is as unimpeachable as the rules of the game they represent. As of this writing, neither the AHF nor Hockey India has released a comprehensive statement detailing the final disciplinary path for Sangha, but the industry expects a permanent separation from all officiating duties as the investigation continues.
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