Jersey row : Saffron kit for hockey team raises eyebrows
The Tribune Editorial: he focus must return to what truly matters — performance on the field
HOCKEY India’s decision to replace the Indian team’s iconic blue jersey with a saffron kit for the upcoming World Cup has sparked a heated debate in sporting and political circles. The federation claims that the change is a technical necessity to improve visibility on a blue turf, but some former players, administrators and a section of hockey fans have criticised the move. There is a hue and cry over alleged saffronisation of the national sport. For nearly a century, the blue jersey has symbolised Indian hockey’s glorious journey — eight Olympic gold medals, the 1975 World Cup triumph and the resurgence in recent years. Sporting identities are built over decades, and colours often become inseparable from a team’s legacy. Just as Brazil is associated with yellow and Argentina with sky blue and white, Indian hockey players have long been recognised as the “Men/Women in Blue”.
