Media boycott FIH press meet

On Saturday, it suffered another blow when the entire Indian media staged a walkout from the press conference of Leandro Negre, the president of the International Hockey Federation (FIH).

Media have had only limited access to the Major Dhyanchand National stadium, the main venue of the tournament, despite promises from the organisers that the accredited persons would not be barred from doing their duties. Even a day prior to the tournament, the media centre was not functional, showing the organisers in poor light.

Negre had just made his opening remarks, apologising for the inconvenience to the media personnel were subjected to, when the Indians made their stance clear and walked out, stunning the FIH president. Pakistani journalists too joined in the protest in a show of solidarity with their Indian counterparts.

The media centre was finally opened in the evening as security was further tightened at the venue. It resembled a police camp with hundreds of cops roaming the area.