{
  "id": 8702603,
  "title": "Hockey India's 'blue' promise goes up in smoke; Indian teams wear saffron at Asiad",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/20/hockey-indias-blue-promise-goes-up-in-smoke-indian-teams-wear-saffron",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-20T14:21:05.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Times of India",
    "slug": "times-of-india",
    "url": "https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/asian-games-2026/hockey-indias-blue-promise-goes-up-in-smoke-as-indian-hockey-teams-wear-saffron-at-asian-games/articleshow/134370060.cms"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Indian men's and women's hockey teams donned saffron jerseys during their opening matches at the Asian Games, despite Hockey India's initial announcement that they would wear traditional blue kits. The saffron-clad teams faced Indonesia and Uzbekistan respectively in Kakamilgahara, Japan. This switch came after Hockey India teams had worn saffron during the World Cup in Belgium and the Netherlands, sparking controversy within the federation. Hockey India President Dilip Tirkey had claimed the jersey change was unauthorized and had caused a rift with HI Secretary Bhola Nath Singh, who advocated for the color change. However, Tirkey later confirmed India would revert to blue as the primary kit for the Asian Games. The IOA provided options for team kit colors, and Hockey India selected blue as the first choice. A secondary kit featuring a combination of white and blue, as well as saffron, was also approved by Hockey India's president.",
  "summary": "Both teams wore saffron in their opening matches against Indonesia and Uzbekistan respectively in Kakamilgahara, Japan.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Free Press Journal",
        "title": "Hockey Jersey Row Returns: India Wear Saffron At Asian Games Despite President’s Blue Assurance",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/20/hockey-jersey-row-returns-india-wear-saffron-at-asian-games-despite",
        "published": "2026-09-20T11:17:03.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}