Why has India’s hockey jersey turned saffron? | In Focus podcast
Hockey India's decision to change the national team's jersey color from blue to saffron has sparked significant controversy among fans and former players. The podcast explores whether the federation followed proper procedures and the reasoning behind the design shift.
Why it matters
The change touches on the intersection of sports, national identity, and political symbolism in India.
For decades, blue has been synonymous with Indian sport. So why has Hockey India decided to replace it with saffron as the primary colour of the men’s national team’s jersey ahead of the FIH Hockey World Cup? The move has sparked criticism from former players, administrators, fans and politicians, raising questions that go far beyond the design of a kit.
In this episode of In Focus, we look at how the decision was made, whether the federation followed due process, if players and support staff were genuinely consulted, and whether Hockey India’s technical explanation for the change stands up to scrutiny.
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