Indian hockey captain Sardar Singh has denied that he sexually assaulted an international hockey player of Indian origin, hours after she filed a written complaint with the Ludhiana police against him, reported The Indian Express. The 29-year-old did not confirm that they had been engaged, but instead said he knew the woman, but "it's wrong to say" that he assaulted her.

The 21-year-old woman said she had met Singh during the London Olympics in 2012 and got engaged to him soon after. She alleged that he forced her to have an abortion in 2015, after which he refused to marry her. In her complaint, she said that he mentally, physically and emotionally tortured her.

The woman further claimed that she had called police at the Indian team's hotel during the World Hockey League in Antwerp last year, when Sardar allegedly assaulted her. “I have filed a complaint and hope I will get justice,” she said. Ludhiana Police Commissioner PS Umranangal said that her “complaint is being verified” and no FIR has been registered yet. India Today reported that the Punjap Police have set up a Special Investigation Team to probe the allegation against Singh.