Indian Hockey Teams: Dilip Tirkey Reveals Inside Story Behind Kit Selection

• by Akanksha Mishra
• 2026-09-09 12:14:00

As the excitement builds for the upcoming continental showdown, Hockey India has officially confirmed that both the Indian men's and women's national hockey teams will step onto the turf wearing blue jerseys at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games 2026 in Japan. Addressing the media on the sidelines of a special send-off ceremony for the athletes, Hockey India President Dilip Tirkey revealed that the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) had presented multiple color options for the official playing kit. Following consultations, Hockey India designated blue as the primary first-choice color, with orange selected as the alternate second option for the national squads.

Resolving Past Kit Controversies: Looking Back at the Pre-World Cup Orange Jersey Debate

The formal selection of blue comes months after a heated controversy erupted right before the Hockey World Cup in the Netherlands and Belgium, when the traditional blue playing strips were abruptly swapped for an orange kit. At the time, President Dilip Tirkey had openly voiced concerns, noting that the unilateral color transition had bypassed the executive board and leadership consultations. By returning to the beloved blue color scheme for the Asian Games, Hockey India has restored traditional team aesthetics while aligning with the overwhelming preference of players and supporters nationwide.

Government Intervention: Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya Motivates Squads to Overcome World Cup Setbacks

The team preparations received a high-level administrative boost when Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya convened a crucial review meeting at the Sports Authority of India (SAI) headquarters. Interacting directly with men's team coach Craig Fulton, captain Harmanpreet Singh, women's team coach Sjoerd Marijne, and captain Salima Tete alongside federation officials, the Sports Minister conducted an extensive hour-long evaluation of the recent World Cup performance. Urging the squads to leave past disappointments behind, Minister Mandaviya instructed players and coaching staff to diagnose tactical shortcomings, refine their gameplay, and channel their complete focus toward clinching top honors at the Asian Games to secure direct qualification for the Los Angeles Olympics.

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