Asian Games 2026: Indian hockey team to wear blue home kits
(Courtesy : Instagram/@hockeyindia)
The controversial saffron kits have been made the second choice
India’s men’s and women’s hockey teams will return to their traditional blue home kits at the Asian Games 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. According to a report by Sportstar, Hockey India (HI) listed blue as its first-choice colour and saffron as its second choice for the tournament.
This decision marks a departure from HI’s controversial decision to ditch the long-standing blue home kits for the FIH Hockey World Cup 2026 and adopt saffron as the team’s home kit colour. This move triggered backlash from former players, federation members, and fans.
HI had explained that the blue kits were discontinued as they could blend into the blue artificial turf used in international hockey, allegedly making it harder for players to spot their teammates during matches.
However, the federation has now reversed that decision for the upcoming Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games. HI treasurer Shekar Manoharan confirmed that the federation submitted blue as the preferred kit colour to the Indian Olympic Association (IOA), while saffron remains the secondary option.
RELATED: Asian Games 2026 – Event dates, venue and other details
“The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) asked us our preferred choice of kit, and HI has given the first preference as blue, with the secondary colour being saffron,” Manoharan said, according to Sportstar.
Also Read: Explained: Why did Hockey India change national team’s jersey colour to saffron?
India prepare for Asian Games title defence
Catch Every Update, Anytime, Anywhere
India’s men’s and women’s hockey teams secured qualification for the 20th Asian Games after finishing in the top six at the previous edition. In fact, the men’s team won gold in the Hangzhou 2023 Games and will start as the defending champions.
HI announced 20-member men’s and women’s squads in July. Coached by Craig Fulton and led by Harmanpreet Singh, the men’s side will begin their title defence against Indonesia on September 20.
The women’s team, coached by Sjoerd Marijne and captained by Salima Tete, will open their campaign against Uzbekistan on September 20.
What home kit will India’s hockey teams wear at Asian Games 2026?
Both the men’s and women’s teams will wear their traditional blue home kits, with saffron relegated to secondary choice.
When and where will the 2026 Asian Games be held?
The Asian Games 2026 will take place in Aichi‑Nagoya, Japan from September 19 to October 4, 2026.
Where will hockey matches at the Asian Games 2026 be held?
All hockey matches will be played at the Gifu Prefectural Green Stadium in Gifu, Japan.
For more updates, follow Khel Now on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram; download the Khel Now Android App or IOS App and join our community on Whatsapp & Telegram