Soon after the Indian women’s hockey team went down fighting to Argentina in the semis at Tokyo Olympics on Wednesday, an ugly scene was witnessed outside player Vandana Katariya’s family home at Roshnabad village in Haridwar. According to reports two men stood outside her house and danced in mock celebration and uttered casteist slurs. One man was arrested.

“We received a complaint from Women’s hockey player Vandana Katariya’s brother over casteist slurs by neighbours against the family after the Olympic loss. FIR was lodged under Sec 504 of IPC and Sec 3 of SC/ST Act. One person has been arrested. Probe is on,: Senthil Abudai Krishnaraj S, SSP Haridwar, told ANI.

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According to a report in TOI quoting Katariya’s family members, “two upper caste men began circling Vandana Katariya’s home at Roshnabad village in Haridwar. They burst crackers, danced in mock celebration and hurled caste abuses at her family, saying that the team had lost because it had too many Dalit players.” 

Katariya’s brother said that soon after the match they heard some commotion outside the house. When he went out he saw two men dancing outside the house. “We know them, they are upper castes,” Shekhar told TOI. According to Shekhar, they unleashed castesist slurs and saud “every sport should keep Dalits out”, the report added.

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India lost the semi-final match to Argentina 2-1 but not before putting up a stupendous show. During the tournament they did the unthinkable when they stunned three-time champions Australia 1-0 on Monday to enter the Olympic semifinals for the first time. Katariya also scored a hattrick against South Africa.

After the semi-final match, PM Narendra Modi spoke to women’s hockey team captain Rani Rampal and coach Sjoerd Marijne, and expressed pride at their performance.

“He told them that the women’s team is a skilled group of athletes who have worked very hard and that they must look ahead. He also said that wins and losses are a part of life and that they must not be disheartened,” official sources said, reports PTI.

The PM also tweeted: “One of the things we will remember Tokyo 2020 for is the stupendous performance by our hockey teams. Today and through the Games, our women’s hockey team played with grit and showcased great skill. Proud of the team. Best of luck for the game ahead and for future endeavours.” A brave Indian women’s hockey team put up a gritty performance, but it was not enough to secure a maiden Olympic final berth as it lost 1-2 to world number two Argentina in a hard-fought semifinal in the Tokyo Olympics.