Helen Mary issue in coach Kaushik’s case

Former Indian captain Helen Mary has claimed in a spate of interviews yesterday two points. First, she claimed that she left hockey because of coach Kaushik’s behaviour (meaning sexual harassment) and two, his relationship with the lady manager of her times.

I have nothing to say on the second point which is not sports related. She has said so and it is between her, coach and the probing committee to look at it and bring the fact before the public.

However, I have a view and feel duty-bound to bring that and certain related events with respect to first point: Why Helen Mary had to leave national team after the last World Cup?

By being a senior most goalie Helan was the leader of the 2006 World Cup team that played some extra-ordinary matches. It lost to reigning World Cup champions and the reining Olympic champions the Netherlands and Germany by an odd goal in the first two matches.

Kaushik was of the view that the team lost crucial matches because of bad goalkeeping. He felt the team is not implementing what is being discussed in the rooms and practice classes. The bone of contention was defence and goalkeeper’s positioning. He expected Helen not to fall on the ground at the drop of hat, and that she should not rush to the top of the circle without bothering about back up. She in particular did not follow coach’s instructions, which was given to her many times for which I was eye witness.

I was the lone journalist from India, and had free access to drawing room meetings and practice sessions.

I was then syndicating Kaushik’s column for Hindustan Times and he mentioned there that the players are not exactly implementing his ideas.

He openly admonished Helen for being indiscipline which she resented.

After the World Cup was over, he told her; “You don’t think you betrayed me, you turned out to be a traitor for the country. (ye mat socho ki mere sath beimani ki hai, aapne desh ke sath gaddari ki hai)

I tried to pacify Kaushik who was fuming. After some moments he said, “each day after our discussions in the room, she called all the players to her room, and asked them to follow her instructions. How can she do it? I spent hours each day before the video to study and get strategy ready for the next day. She did all these so that she cannot be faulted for her own game. She is selfish. She sacrificed country’s interest. This is the reason we lost close matches”.

After the team returned, expectedly she had difficulty in getting into the team. Young Marita Tirkey replaced Helan, and the team went on to win bronze at the Doha Asian Games.

The story does not end here. Kaushik refused to coach women team. For the whole of 2007 the national women team had no coach.

Kaushik vowed that day at Madrid he won’t coach women team any longer, but the fate willed differently.

If anybody has doubt on what I have written here, they should talk to the then assistant coach AB Subbaiah or physio Dr. Vikas Dhawan. They were also witness to what I portrayed.