ISLAMABAD, Oct 28: The start of the 46th National Badminton Championship was marred Monday, after journalists staged a walkout in protest over the organisers failure to facilitate them in performing their professional duties.

Newsmen claimed that the organisers, Islamabad Badminton Association and the Pakistan Badminton Federation (PBF) had neither bothered to hold a pre-tournament news conference nor had they given out any relevant information regarding the championship to the media.

“Journalists are a part and parcel of any sporting event and I am surprised that they have been ignored altogether by the organisers who are out to stage a National Championship,” one of the scribes said.

About a dozen journalists were at the Rodham Hall of the Pakistan Sports Complex.

As many as 15 teams taking part in the week-long championship being held in Islamabad for the first time, marched in and lined up in front of the main stand.

Army, Balochistan, Fata, KPT, NWFP, New Khan, OGDCL, PMAD, Pak Telecom, Punjab, Railways, Sindh, National Bank, Wapda and Islamabad are the teams which will be on show.