{
  "id": 6397658,
  "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",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-09T07:06:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Malaysia Today",
    "slug": "free-malaysia-today-freemalays",
    "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 team will revert to its iconic blue jerseys for the upcoming Asian Games after backlash against their orange kits at the recent World Cup. The color change in Belgium and the Netherlands sparked outrage from Hockey India officials and former players, who associate the bright orange saffron hue with Hindu nationalism endorsed by India's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Both the men's and women's national teams will now compete in blue, with saffron as a secondary color at the tournament beginning September 19 in Nagoya-Aichi.\n\nHockey India president Dilip Tirkey revealed the decision at a send-off event in New Delhi, stating that the switch from orange to blue is not permanent. The men's team, which finished eighth at the World Cup, will aim to defend their Asian Games title in Japan, where a gold medal would secure qualification for the 2028 Olympics. Meanwhile, the women's team seeks to improve on their bronze medal 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",
        "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."
}