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Affair gone wrong?

British hockey player of Indian origin files police complaint against Sardar Singh of 'attempt to rape' and harassment; Indian hockey captain refutes reports

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Sardar Singh has denied any wrongdoing
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Indian hockey captain Sardar Singh found himself in an uncomfortable situation on Wednesday when he is in the middle of Hockey India League. A British woman hockey player of Indian origin filed a police complaint of "attempt to rape" against him.

Sardar has refuted reports of harassing or assaulting her in any manner.

"I will first look what the complaint is. Give me time. I will answer all the allegations. Nothing of that sort, which has been alleged, happened," Sardar said.

Ask any Indian hockey player or official and they will tell you how Sardar and Ashpal Kaur Bhogal were a pair till 2014. Their affair reportedly turned into a "liability" not just for the Indian hockey captain but also the entire support staff. They were trying to keep this British hockey player away from not just the playing field but also the team hotel.

But then this is the version of all those who have been standing by Sardar during his most difficult times. Sardar has never denied that he was in relationship with Ashpal since 2012. In fact, it was during the London Games that both these players became a pair. Even the couple did interact with the media a couple of times.

In fact, Ashpal was also seen with the Indian skipper during the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games and the Incheon Asian Games. The claim that Ashpal has been making regarding their "engagement" cannot be proved through any of the players or officials. Some kind of photographs or any other proof she has in possession could prove her claim. According to her, they met in London during the Olympic Games and were to be married.

Going by Ashpal's tweets and a video shot in 2012, in which she describes their relationship as stable and enriching, "they originally met over Facebook and became close friends when Sardar came for the Olympics. "I was going through surgery and Sardar actually gave me tickets to watch him play and from then on we just spoke more and became close friends. Then, we met a year later in London and that's where our love story began," Ashpal has been quoted as saying.

However, the most interesting comments came from a senior Hockey India official. Having been touring with players for more than one occasion, the official told dna that "this is nothing but a blackmail".

"This girl is blackmailing Sardar. This is what players and officials have also told me in private. Even I saw many times how she was stalking Sardar," the official said on Wednesday. "Talk to any of the coaches — Roelant Oltmans, Terry Walsh or Paul van Ass — and they will tell you that there were many instances in the last two years where she was asked to leave the team hotel," the official added.

However, neither this official nor Sardar has completely denied Ashpal's claim that "they were engaged at his native place in the presence of his family".

"My son will soon hold a press conference to clear the air," a statement from Sardar's father, who lives in the Sirsa district in Haryana, said. Sardar has been busy with his team in Hockey India League and claims that "he only came to know about this complaint last night (Tuesday)".

Ashpal, in her police complaint filed with Koom Kalan police station in Ludhiana, alleged that Sardar had "mentally, physically and emotionally tortured her". "I'll always be there to support him," she has said.

"We both are from Namdhari families, and we have a lot in common in terms of values and beliefs. Also, we both play the game at an international level," Ashpal used to claim during conversations as and when she interacted with the media till 2014. She even claimed that time that "she was ready to move to India following their marriage".

What happened after that can only be narrated by Sardar once he breaks his silence on Ashpal. But the British citizen has now alleged that "Sardar had backed out of their relationship and even forced her to abort their child and is now refusing to marry her, after announcing their engagement".

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