The Indian men's and women's hockey teams will wear saffron as their primary jersey at next month's FIH Hockey World Cup in the Netherlands and Belgium, replacing the iconic blue kit that has long been synonymous with Indian hockey. The change has sparked a debate, with former India captain Viren Rasquinha questioning the decision.
Unveiling the new kit on its social media platforms, Hockey India said the jersey was designed to "tell a story" and reflect "India's pride." According to the federation, saffron represents courage, sacrifice and victory, while also drawing inspiration from the Indian national flag and the rising sun to signify new beginnings. The jersey features Mandala-inspired patterns celebrating India's cultural heritage, deep navy blue accents inspired by the Ashoka Chakra, a modern interpretation of the Sudarshan Chakra on the chest symbolising "strength, unity, and momentum," tricolour piping along the shoulders and sides, and "INDIA" written in stylised Devanagari script to celebrate the country's linguistic and cultural diversity.
