'Hockey jersey colour change not merely sports-related choice'

The Congress on Saturday questioned the change of the Indian hockey team's jersey colour, saying sports and players should not be made a medium for narrow-minded political experiments, and demanded the government reconsider its decision. In a post on X, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge.

The Indian hockey teams, traditionally attired in blue, will be donning saffron kits during the World Cup in the Netherlands and Belgium, starting on August 15. The change in the uniform's colour was announced on July 27.

What Happened

The decision to change the colour of the Indian hockey team's jersey is not merely a sports-related choice, but a matter deeply connected to the sentiments of millions of Indians and our sporting traditions. Indian players have long been recognized around the.

• HI said saffron symbolises courage, sacrifice and victory.

• Unveiling the new jersey on its social media pages, Hockey India had said the design and colour of the jersey is meant to "tell a story" and carry "India's pride" and was finalised after.

• It is unfortunate that those whose ideological tradition made no contribution to the freedom movement are now seen in a haste to leave their ideological imprint on every national symbol and every public institution.

Key Details

He said saffron, white, and green are all three colours in our tricolor, and they also hold an honourable place in the flag of the Indian National Congress.

• National symbols, sports, and players should not be made a medium for narrow-minded political experiments.

• He said this government has changed the colour - sometimes on road pavements, sometimes in the attire of Parliament employees, sometimes on the Doordarshan logo, and now in players' jerseys - without broad public.

• Today, it is difficult to understand why the need was felt to alter this historic identity.

Why It Matters

This identity is not just about the colour of the jersey, but a legacy of Indian sports.

What Reports Say

Coverage of the story so far points to:

• Continued reporting by Rediff as more details emerge