Why Indian hockey team jersey changed from blue to saffron: HI explains
Hockey India has announced that the national teams will switch from blue to saffron jerseys for the 2026 FIH Hockey World Cup. The federation cites improved visibility against blue synthetic turf and national pride as the primary reasons for the change.
Why it matters
The decision has sparked debate regarding the balance between functional sports performance and the preservation of national team identity.
NEW DELHI: Hockey India (HI) on Thursday explained why the Indian men's and women's hockey teams will wear saffron jerseys instead of their traditional blue kits at the 2026 FIH Hockey World Cup, saying the decision was taken for both technical reasons and the colour's national significance.The move drew criticism from former India captain Viren Rasquinha, who questioned the decision and said the team's identity has always been linked to the blue jersey.However, Hockey India said the change was made after discussions with coaches and players, who felt the blue jersey reduced visibility on modern blue synthetic hockey pitches.Why did Hockey India change the jersey colour?According to Hockey India, the traditional blue jersey blended with the blue artificial turf used in international hockey, making it difficult for players to spot teammates during matches."It was observed that the blue playing uniform tended to blend/merge with the blue synthetic playing surface, which…
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