{
  "id": 6397290,
  "title": "Indian hockey back to blue after anger over orange kit",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/09/indian-hockey-back-to-blue-after-anger-over-orange-kit",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-09T07:06:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Malaysia Today",
    "slug": "free-malaysia-today",
    "url": "https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/sports/2026/09/09/indian-hockey-back-to-blue-after-anger-over-orange-kit"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "India's field hockey teams are returning to their traditional blue jerseys for the upcoming Asian Games, following criticism of their orange kits at the recent World Cup. The change was met with disapproval from Hockey India officials and former players, as the orange color is associated with Hindu nationalism, which aligns with the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Both the men's and women's national teams will now wear blue as their primary color at the Asian Games, set to begin on September 19 in Nagoya-Aichi. Hockey India president Dilip Tirkey confirmed the decision, stating that the switch was not a permanent change, but the teams will indeed be wearing blue. The women's team aims to improve upon their bronze medal finish from the last Asian Games.",
  "summary": "The colour change drew criticism from Hockey India officials and former players, as saffron is also associated with India’s ruling BJP.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "Indian hockey back to blue after anger over orange kit",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/09/indian-hockey-back-to-blue-after-anger-over-orange-kit-6397658",
        "published": "2026-09-09T07:06:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}