The Indian hockey teams, both men and women, turned up in saffron kits for their respective opening matches of the Asian Games on Sunday (September 20, 2026) despite the pre-event declaration by Hockey India that they would revert to blue uniforms.
The two Indian teams had first played in saffron during last month’s World Cup in Belgium and the Netherlands, which created a massive controversy.
But soon after the World Cup and just before the Asian Games, Tirkey asserted that India will revert to the iconic blue jersey at the continental extravaganza as their primary kit along with white.
“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 during the send-off ceremony of the Asian Games-bound Indian contingent. “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 HI source told PTI .