Day One at camp: Limited action and finger on the lips

The notice read: ‘‘No media/press are allowed during the practice sessions and they should not be permitted to shoot (sic).’’

As if this was not enough, the newly-appointed coach when he came out first refused to talk.

However, IHF general secretary K Jothikumaran said he would do so after donning the team colours with the sponsor’s logo.

When the coach finally settled down to talk, the first thing he said was he would take only ‘‘non-controversial’’ questions. ‘‘I have been given a charge and I will try my best to do it in a satisfactory manner. I know building a team is not easy, it takes time, but we will try,’’ he said.

Jothikumaran, on his part, refused to say anything on the media ban. This is not the first time the IHF has resorted to such a gag order. It happened before the Asia Cup in September 2003, before the team left for the US to prepare for the Olympics and prior to its departure for Athens.

Interestingly, an official information on Rajinder Singh’s appointment is yet to come. Similarly, the IHF has not released even the list of probables for the camp.