Our Bureau
New Delhi
India’s men’s and women’s hockey teams will return to their traditional blue jerseys at the upcoming Asian Games in Japan, reversing the decision to make saffron the primary colour after the switch triggered widespread criticism during the recent World Cup. Hockey India has selected blue as the first-choice kit, while saffron will remain an alternative option.
The decision comes ahead of the Asian Games, where the Indian teams will be aiming for strong campaigns with Olympic qualification implications. The return to blue restores a colour long associated with Indian hockey and the national teams’ identity.
Hockey India president Dilip Tirkey said the move to saffron was never intended to be permanent. The change had been justified earlier on visibility grounds, with the new colour expected to make Indian players more easily distinguishable against the blue playing surface. However, the decision attracted criticism from several former players and became the subject of a wider public and political controversy.
The controversy intensified as India’s men endured a disappointing World Cup campaign, finishing eighth, while the women produced a much stronger showing, securing their best World Cup finish since 1974 with a fifth-place finish.
With the jersey debate now seemingly settled, attention will shift back to the field. The Asian Games provide both teams an opportunity to rebuild momentum, with the familiar blue kit once again carrying the hopes and expectations associated with Indian hockey.
For the players, the return is more than a change of colour, it marks a return to a familiar visual identity as they prepare for a crucial continental tournament.