Negre backs security measures

NEW DELHI: Even as the media had a tough time in interacting with the players of various teams in the World Cup because of tight security on Thursday, International Hockey Federation (FIH) President Leandro Negre did not attach much importance to the chaos as far as coverage of the build-up was concerned.

“There is no chaos. The security men are doing their work. There are one or two small things, but we cannot compromise the security of players,” Mr. Negre said on Thursday.

“The World Cup is very important not only for Indian hockey but for FIH too. We are working very hard to make it a wonderful World Cup. Whatever issues are there will be sorted out once the tournament begins,” he said.

Asked whether preventing media from covering the build-up would not hamper the promotion of the sport, Mr. Negre said, “(because of the safety measures) it has come to a balance.”

With stringent security cover the team hotel wore the look of a fortress as the scribes, even with World Cup accreditation, were denied entry to the team hotel unlike the previous days. — Sports Reporter