Hockey World Cup Jersey Row Deepens as HI President Dilip Tirkey Seeks Explanation over Saffron Switch
HI said the switch followed consultation and a visibility review, but officials questioned why the executive board and sponsor were not formally informed.
- On Friday, Hockey India President Dilip Tirkey formally questioned officials about the decision to switch the Indian National Team's jersey from blue to saffron ahead of the FIH Hockey World Cup.
- The shift occurred without consulting the Executive Board or Tirkey, who learned of the plan via social media; Hockey India officials insisted the move was a technical decision to address 'sub-optimal contrast' against the blue turf.
- Amid criticism, the Odisha Government requested a formal explanation, while Hockey India Secretary Bhola Nath Singh maintains that 'all officials were aware' of the change, which he claims players demanded.
- Tirkey's emails highlighted that the issue was one of 'propriety and procedure' rather than the color, as the controversy attracted political interpretation; he insisted 'significant decisions' require elected leadership consultation.
- With the FIH Hockey World Cup scheduled for August 15 in the Netherlands and Belgium, the Indian team faces these distractions while preparing for the Asian Games over the next two months.
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19 Articles
Question is not about any particular colour, but...: Kharge urges government to reconsider orange hockey jersey decision - The Tribune
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on Saturday questioned the decision to change the Indian hockey team's traditional blue jersey to orange, saying the move was not merely a sporting decision but one linked to the sentiments of millions of Indians and the country's sporting legacy.
“Wearing Saffron Will Push Us to Perform Better”: Manpreet Singh shuts down critics, backs India’s new Hockey kit
Bengaluru: Speaking in Bengaluru, Manpreet rejected any suggestion of external or political pressure behind the change. “If you look back, we wore yellow jerseys during the 2014 World Cup and also at the Commonwealth Games. It wasn’t a huge issue; the team management and all the players made a collective decision. Whatever political narrative might be circulating is a separate matter, but the decision didn’t come from the outside,” he told ANI. …
Propriety, procedure and internal cracks — Saffron jersey change leaves Hockey India red-faced
An exchange of letters between HI president Tirkey and director general Srivastava on Friday reveals the decision was not unanimous and limited to only two or three people in the organisation.
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