Sardar Singh will not captain India in Rio Olympics
In a major decision, Hockey India removed Sardar Singh from captaincy and named goalkeeper P.R.Sreejesh as the skipper of the team representing India at Rio Olympics. While Sardar's performance dipped on field, off it he is entangled in rape allegations, which damaged his reputation. Sreejesh proved his mettle in the recent Champions Trophy tournament, where he led the team to win a silver medal.
Sardara Singh's hockey debut
Sardara Singh or Sardar Singh is an Indian field hockey professional. He was born on 15 July 1986, in Santnagar, Haryana. Sardar started playing hockey at the age of 12 and made his Indian team debut as junior against Poland, at the age of 17, in 2003-04. He made it into the Senior team in a game against Pakistan in 2006.
Hockey runs in the family
Sardar's elder brother Didar Singh is also a hockey player, a drag-flick master who in the past represented India and played for Haryana. He also played for Chandigarh Dynamos in the now defunct Premier Hockey League.
Sardar Singh's rise to captaincy
Sardar's first big achievement was being part of Indian team that won gold medal in Asia Cup, in 2007. In 2008, Sardar was appointed as the national team captain for Sultan Azlan Shah tournament, becoming the youngest player ever, to lead Indian hockey team. India won a silver medal there. The midfielder was also in the 2009 and 2010 teams that won Azlan cup.
Rio Olympic qualification
Led by Sardar Singh the Indian Hockey team won Gold at Asian Games in Incheon, South Korea, in 2014. The win ended a gold medal drought of 16 years, at the Asian Games. It also meant that India directly qualified for 2016 Rio Olympics, qualifying ahead of time. Sardar also captained the team in 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games, bringing back a silver medal.
Sardar Singh's accomplishments
Sardar Singh was named 'Player of the tournament' in various events including Sultan Azlan Shah tournament (2012), the 2012 Olympic qualification tournament, and the 2013 Hockey India League (HIL). For his outstanding achievements in hockey, Sardar was presented with Arjuna Award in 2012. Sardar Singh is also a Padma Shri winner, India's fourth highest civilian award, which he was awarded in 2015.
Sexual harassment allegations against Sardar Singh
In Feb 2016, a British woman hockey player of Indian-origin filed a sexual assault case against Sardar Singh, in Ludhiana. Subsequently, an SIT (Special Investigation Team) formed to probe the allegations, gave a clean chit to Sardar, in May. In June, on the recommendation of Delhi Commission for Women (DCW), the British national registered a fresh FIR in New Delhi. The case is ongoing.
