Hockey India Clarifies Saffron Jersey Row, Says Decision Was Approved

The controversy over the change in jersey colours of the Indian hockey teams continues, with Hockey India issuing another clarification on the matter. The organisation explained that the shift from the traditional blue jerseys to saffron was made to ensure better visibility against blue hockey turfs and was not linked to any other reason.

The decision had drawn criticism on social media, with some alleging that the saffron colour represented the ruling BJP and was being imposed on the national team. The issue gained further attention after Hockey India president Dilip Tirkey, who initially supported the change, later said he was not aware of the approval process. Following this, he sought clarification from officials. In response, Director General Commander R.K. Srivastava sent a four-page reply stating that the jersey change was approved by the executive committee members.