New Jersey Unveiled Amidst Criticism
The Indian hockey team‘s decision to change its jersey colour from the traditional blue to saffron has drawn criticism from former Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik. The new saffron jerseys, which will be worn by both the men’s and women’s teams at the upcoming FIH World Cup in the Netherlands and Belgium, were unveiled by Hockey India on July 27.
Hockey India stated that the new design and colour are intended to “tell a story” and embody “India’s pride.” The federation explained that saffron symbolises courage, sacrifice, and victory, and is inspired by the Indian national flag and the rising sun, reflecting new beginnings. The new jersey also features a mandala motif, navy blue accents inspired by the Ashok Chakra, a modern interpretation of the Sudarshan Chakra, and tricolour piping in saffron, white, and green.
Dilip Tirkey, president of Hockey India, defended the change, citing a specific request from players and coaches. According to Tirkey, wearing blue jerseys on blue hockey turf created visual overlap during gameplay, reducing contrast and clarity. He also noted that orange is represented in the national flag, and out of two options (orange and yellow) requested by the squad, orange was selected to reflect the saffron in the national flag.
Reactions and Political Allegations
Naveen Patnaik expressed his deep anguish over the change, stating on X that the blue jersey has been a significant part of Indian hockey for decades. He described the iconic blue shade as an emotion linked to the nation’s sporting heritage, uniting fans in hope, victory, and defeat. Patnaik, who played as a goalkeeper for his school hockey team, highlighted the pride associated with the blue jersey, noting that teams wearing it have won Olympic medals.
Patnaik further argued that the blue colour represents the country, deriving from the blue chakra in the national flag, making it a symbol of national pride and identity that belongs to every Indian. He recalled that Odisha became the first state to sponsor the national hockey teams when they were struggling to find support, a move that brought pride to people from Odisha globally.
The former chief minister alleged that the decision to change the jersey colour was made under pressure from the BJP government in Odisha. He claimed that for the past two years, there has been an obsession with changing colours of buildings, buses, and bridges in Odisha. Patnaik condemned this as an attempt by BJP Odisha to politicise a national game like hockey, which he believes has hurt the sentiments of sports enthusiasts and the pride associated with Odisha‘s support for national hockey.
Other reactions to the jersey change include former Indian Hockey Team captain Viren Rasquinha, who expressed disappointment on X, stating that the legacy and identity of the Indian team have always been blue. Users on social media platforms also questioned the change, with some commenting, “It is blue and always will be blue in our hearts” and “Why should everything be orange? BRING BACK THE ICONIC BLUE!!”
Tirkey acknowledged the legacy of the blue jersey but pointed out that the jersey colour has been changed before, with the team wearing yellow in 2014 and light blue in 2018. He reiterated that the current change came as a suggestion directly from coaches, supporting staff, players, and team captains. The new jersey also includes the tagline “Think India, Think Odisha,” highlighting Odisha‘s ongoing support as the team’s principal sponsor, and embodies the spirit of “Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat.”
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com
