New Delhi: After facing intense criticism for switching its long-standing colour to saffron, which the teams sported during the FIH World Cups in the Netherlands and Belgium, the Indian hockey teams will revert to their traditional blue jerseys for the upcoming Asian Games. The decision to switch to saffron had triggered internal discord when HI president Dilip Tirkey publicly questioned the move, stating it was implemented without the knowledge or approval of the federation’s elected leadership and Executive Board. “The IOA had given us options regarding the team kit colours, and Hockey India selected blue as the first choice for the Indian team’s kit. Orange will be the second choice,” HI president Dilip Tirkey told PTI on the sidelines of the send-off ceremony of the Asian Games-bound Indian contingent. “I had stated even before the World Cup that the orange jersey colour was not permanent; it could be changed in the future. Now, blue is back …,” he added. A controversy had erupted recently when the Indian hockey team’s jersey colour was changed from the traditional blue to orange just before the World Cup held in the Netherlands and Belgium.
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