Indian hockey teams don saffron jerseys in opening Asian Games matches

The Indian men's and women's hockey teams wore saffron jerseys in their opening matches at the Asian Games on Sunday, despite Hockey India's pre-event announcement that the teams would return to their traditional blue kits.

India's men faced Indonesia while the women's team played Uzbekistan in their respective opening matches in Kakamilgahara.

The saffron jerseys had first been worn by both teams at last month's World Cup in Belgium and the Netherlands, triggering controversy within the national federation.

Hockey India president Dilip Tirkey had then said the change was made without the knowledge or approval of the federation's elected leadership and Executive Board, leading to an internal dispute with HI secretary Bhola Nath Singh, who was perceived to have backed the change.

Ahead of the Asian Games, Tirkey had said India would wear its iconic blue jersey as the primary kit at the continental event, with white as another option.

"The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) had given us options regarding the team kit colours and Hockey India selected blue as the first choice for the Indian team's kit. Orange will be the second choice," Tirkey had said at the send-off ceremony for the Asian Games-bound contingent.

However, both teams turned out in saffron in their opening fixtures, reviving questions over the federation's kit decision.

A Hockey India source, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the approved playing kits for the Asian Games were always saffron and a combination of white and sky blue, rather than an all-blue outfit.

"The two colours for the Indian teams' playing kits for the Asian Games 2026 were always saffron and the combination of white and sky blue, which was approved by the HI president himself.

"As to why the president then said that India will wear all-blue at the Asian Games is something you need to ask the president himself," the source told PTI.

The rationale given for the change in jersey colour was that blue kits could create visibility issues against the blue playing surface.

Indian hockey teams have predominantly worn blue since the country's Olympic debut in 1928, barring a few isolated instances.