Now, former coach Baldev Singh speaks against Kaushik

Dronacharya awardee hockey coach Baldev Singh, who has groomed many star players like skipper Surinder Kaur, on Thursday backed sexual harassment accusations against M K Kaushik, saying he was aware about the alleged misbehaviour of the national coach.

Singh said the girls, whom he has trained, spoke to him about Kaushik's alleged misconduct and had raised the issue with the national selectors.

"I had received complaints from the girls earlier also. They used to say that 'Kaushik sir' (M K Kaushik) has totally changed now. He uses abusive language and his behaviour is strange.

"He even threatened captain Surinder Kaur and star forward Jasjeet Kaur to exclude their names from Commonwealth Games 2010 team," Baldev, who has trained stars like Surinder, Mamta Kharab and Rani Rampal told PTI-Bhasha from Shahbad.

Kaushik tendered his resignation on Wednesday following charges against him by a woman player but pleaded innocence.

Singh has been coaching the girls from Shahbad Markanda, nursery of women hockey in the country, for the last 20 years at the local hockey stadium.

On Kaushik's claims that some girls were out of the team because of their poor performance and recordings were a proof, Baldev said the video was made by Kaushik and his support staff according to their agenda.

"Players say they make video of that part of the match only where they have committed some mistakes. Why don't they show the video of the full match? This is absolute blackmailing," he said.

Singh said many talented players and Indian women's hockey particularly have suffered due to Kaushik's style of functioning.

"Goalkeeper Jasdeep Kaur was kept out of the squad despite attending the camp. She was the best Asian player. Sandip was shown the door two months back without any explanation.

"Full back Suman Bala and former captain Helen Mary's careers were destroyed. Now 2002 CWG golden girl Mamta Kharab is suffering," he accused.

He said that an international player from Shahbad has verbally complained against a south Indian support staff four years back.

"The girl was shattered. I conveyed her complaint to Amrit Bose (former IWHF secretary). That man was removed from the post but the issue was settled behind closed doors. But the situation remained gloomy.

"Girls did not want to attend national camps. Kaushik used to call them alone in the room which they never liked. But the girls were very well prepared this time and the whole team was united against him," he said.