Paris Olympics 2024: 'Chak De India' Star Joshua Burt Plays Real-Life Villain to Indian Hockey With Amit Rohidas Suspension

New Delhi: Indian defender Amit Rohidas was handed a red card during India’s men’s hockey quarterfinal clash against Britain after his stick unintentionally struck a rival player’s face. Despite Hockey India’s fervent appeal, the International Hockey Federation (FIH) upheld the controversial red card, suspending Amit for the pivotal semi-final against Germany. This decision ignited a wave of outrage among Indian fans and officials.

It has now emerged that Amit’s suspension letter was authored by none other than Joshua Burt, the actor who played the coach of the Australian women’s hockey team in the iconic Indian film ‘Chak De India’. In the movie, Burt’s character famously suffered a crushing defeat at the hands of the Indian women’s hockey team.

Born in Melbourne, Joshua Burt is an ardent hockey enthusiast who has made significant contributions to the sport off-screen as well. He has coached, managed, and officiated at an elite level, having been part of the officiating teams at both the Rio and Tokyo Olympics. Currently, he is serving as a technical delegate for FIH at the Paris Olympics.