India's men's and women's hockey teams wear saffron for Asian Games openers in Japan
India's men's and women's hockey teams played their opening Asian Games matches in saffron jerseys in Kakamilgahara, Japan, on Sunday, despite Hockey India having earlier announced the teams would revert to blue. Both sides had worn saffron at last month's World Cup, a change that provoked controversy inside the federation.
The World Cup switch prompted Hockey India president Dilip Tirkey to say the change had been made without the knowledge or approval of the federation's elected leadership and Executive Board, a claim that escalated into a governance dispute with HI secretary Bhola Nath Singh. Tirkey later said India would revert to the "iconic blue jersey" as their primary kit for the Asian Games, adding that white would also be a primary 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 said during the send-off ceremony of the Asian Games-bound contingent.
Despite Tirkey's statement, the men's side faced Indonesia and the women's side played Uzbekistan in their respective opening fixtures wearing saffron shirts at the Asian Games on Sunday in Kakamilgahara (Japan). The use of saffron at the tournament contrasted with the prior declaration that blue would be restored as the principal colour for the continental event.
A Hockey India source speaking on condition of anonymity told PTI that the teams' kit plan for the Asian Games 2026 always consisted of saffron and a combination of white and sky blue, and that this scheme "was approved by the HI president himself." The same source added, "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," attributing the comment to internal disagreement over the public messaging.
Hockey India has cited visibility concerns on blue turf as the explanation for altering the playing colours, saying that blue jerseys on a blue surface caused sighting issues. Historically, Indian hockey teams have predominantly worn blue since the nation's Olympic debut in 1928, with only a few exceptions to that convention.
The differing public statements from Hockey India officials and the anonymous federation source leave the kit issue unresolved as the teams continue their Asian Games campaigns, with saffron appearing on the field for these opening matches.