Tokyo Olympics: Report Says Casteist Slurs Hurled at Indian Hockey Player's Family Following Semi-Final Loss

Casteist slurs were hurled at the family of Indian hockey player Vandana Katariya following the women's semi-final loss to Argentina at the Tokyo Olympics on Wednesday.

According to a report in The Times of India, two men were seen outside Katariya's home in the village of Roshnabad in Haridwar hours after the team's defeat. The men reportedly burst crackers and danced in mock celebration outside the family's home, saying that the team had lost since it had "too many Dalit players".

"Suddenly, right after the match, we heard loud noises. Crackers were being burst outside our house. When we went outside, we saw two men from our village – we know them and they are upper castes – dancing in front of our house," Katariya's brother, Shekhar, told the newspaper.

When the men saw her family come out of the house they reportedly continued with the casteist abuse, saying that all sports "should keep Dalits out". "Then, they took some of their clothes off and started dancing again … It was a caste-based attack," Shekhar said in his complaint.

One of the accused has been detained in connection with the case but an FIR had not been registered based on the complaint, the report said.

Vandana Katiyar had hit the headlines after becoming the first Indian woman to score a hat-trick at the Olympics against South Africa. The 29-year-old's goal haul was a big factor in the Indian team moving on to the quarter-finals.

The Indian womens' hockey team lost 1-2 to Argentina in the semi-finals at the Tokyo Olympics on Wednesday. Gurjit Singh had put the side ahead in the second minute but Argentina came from behind to win the encounter. The team will face reigning world champions the Netherlands on Friday. India will play Great Britain for the bronze medal the same day.