India Hockey Teams to Return to Traditional Blue Jerseys at Asian Games
Sports Correspondent: Imran Sohail
India’s men’s and women’s hockey teams will return to their traditional blue jerseys at the upcoming Asian Games in Japan after the team’s orange-colored kits at the recent World Cup attracted criticism from former players and hockey officials.
The teams will wear blue as their primary color when the Asian Games begin in Nagoya-Aichi on September 19. Saffron will remain part of the kit as a secondary color.
Hockey India Confirms Kit Change
Hockey India President Dilip Tirkey confirmed the decision during an Asian Games send-off event in New Delhi.
Tirkey said the orange kit introduced for the World Cup was not intended to be a permanent change and confirmed that both the men’s and women’s teams would return to blue for the Asian Games.
The change follows criticism from several former Indian players, who had expressed their preference for the traditional blue associated with the country’s hockey teams.
India’s Asian Games Campaign
The Indian men’s team finished eighth at the recent World Cup and will enter the Asian Games as the defending champions.
A gold medal in the Asian Games hockey competition would also secure India’s qualification for the 2028 Olympic Games.
Meanwhile, the Indian women’s team will aim to improve on its performance from the previous Asian Games, where it won the bronze medal.
Both teams will be looking to make a strong start in Japan as they compete for Asian Games medals and, in the men’s event, an Olympic qualification spot.
