Hockey India President Dilip Tirkey is seeking an explanation from Hockey India board officials regarding a change in the team jersey colour from blue to saffron. According to multiple reports, Tirkey says the Executive Board was not consulted before the decision was made and that there was a lack of clarity on the process behind the shift.
The move has drawn criticism beyond the administration. Scroll.in reports that former Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik also questions the change, saying the blue jersey is tied to the nation’s sporting heritage and is associated with supporters’ “emotion” connected to the sport.
The reports collectively describe the issue as an internal governance and consultation dispute within Hockey India, with the federation’s top official asking board members for details. The controversy centers on both the manner in which the jersey change is implemented and the significance of the blue jersey for the country’s hockey identity. The current status of any review or response from the officials involved is not detailed in the provided accounts.
