Hockey India reverses its earlier plan to use saffron as the primary colour for the men’s and women’s teams at the 2026 Asian Games, opting instead for the traditional blue kits. The change is announced ahead of the Aichi-Nagoya event in Japan and follows criticism after India wore saffron at the recent FIH Hockey World Cup.
Both reports say Hockey India previously defended the saffron choice on technical grounds, including better visibility against the playing surface, and cited national association. After the backlash, Hockey India lists blue as its first-choice colour for the Asian Games, with saffron retained as a secondary option if needed. The Free Press Journal also reports that the Indian Olympic Association asked Hockey India to use its preferred kit colours, which Hockey India took into account when setting the final colours.
The outlets also note that the Asian Games designs are not yet fully finalized, and saffron is not described as permanently dropped from future kit options. The men’s team is set to defend its Asian Games gold, with Olympic qualification implications also driving the high-stakes approach.
