India’s field hockey teams to return to blue kits at Asian Games
India’s men’s and women’s field hockey teams will compete in traditional blue kits at the Asian Games, which begin on September 19 in Nagoya-Aichi, Japan. The decision was made after criticism of the orange kits worn by the teams at the recent World Cup in Belgium and the Netherlands, Dawn reports.
Reaction to the colour change
Orange, or saffron, is associated with Hindu nationalism supported by India’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party. The change in kit colour caused dissatisfaction among Hockey India officials and former national team players.
Hockey India president Dilip Tirkey told reporters at an event held before the teams departed for the Asian Games in New Delhi that the switch to saffron was never intended to be permanent. According to him, blue will again be the main kit colour for both teams, while saffron will become the secondary colour.
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Position of former captains
Tirkey had previously said that he was not consulted about the switch to saffron kits. Some considered the decision politically motivated. Former India team captains Pargat Singh, Dhanraj Pillay, Ajit Pal Singh and Viren Rasquinha also condemned abandoning the colour long associated with Indian field hockey.
India’s men’s team finished eighth at the World Cup and will defend its title at the Asian Games. A gold medal will guarantee qualification for the 2028 Olympics. The women’s team seeks to improve on its result at the previous Asian Games, where it won bronze.
