KOLKATA: The Jharkhand government has removed hockey coach Sudhir Golla from the Eklavya Hockey Training Center in Ranchi over complaints of absenteeism and harassment, according to an order issued by the director of sports and youth affairs on May 11, 2026.“He was constantly absent from training duties and misbehaved with practice girls. Several verbal complaints were received against Gollu in the past as well,” read the order, a copy of which is in TOI’s possession.The order also noted that Golla, who hails from Telangana, was absent from the training center for more than two weeks without the authority’s approval, disrupting the training activities. In his place, Karuna Purti, a coach at the Government Girls’ School in Bariat, has been assigned to the existing duties of the additional management of the Eklavya Hockey Training Centre.Hockey India subsequently withdrew Golla from its boys’ U-18 camp in Bhopal on Friday, where he was part of the ongoing program as an assistant coach.“The moment we came to know about the allegations of harassment, he was immediately removed from the camp. At Hockey India, we always take complaints of misconduct with the utmost seriousness,” a Hockey India official told TOI.The latest episode adds to recent controversies in Indian hockey, including an April complaint accusing a Hockey India official of sexual harassment and abuse of authority and a 2025 case involving allegations of misconduct against a junior women’s team coach.Also during the first Women’s HIL, the coach was dismissed overnight after the authorities were informed of complaints of harassment of junior players.Golla has previously worked as a technical official in national tournaments and was only with Ranchi Royals as a stand-in manager during the Women’s Hockey India League in January this year.Last year, he was the head coach of the Jharkhand team during the Women’s Under-20 meet, Women’s Under-18 meet and the Senior National Tournament in Panchkula, Haryana, besides serving as the women’s team manager during the national games.However, developments have brought a renewed focus on monitoring and accountability within basic and training facilities.
