The Indian women’s hockey team (Pic credit: Hockey India)
The Asian Games will carry added significance as India seeks qualification for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. The women’s team, meanwhile, will be aiming to end a 44-year wait for an Asian Games title after finishing third in the 2022 edition. The decision comes just weeks after the saffron kits became a major talking point at the FIH Hockey World Cup in the Netherlands and Belgium. Hockey India had switched from its long-standing blue jersey to saffron ahead of the tournament, citing technical concerns over visibility against the blue playing surface. India’s World Cup campaign did little to silence the debate over the technical justification. The men’s team finished eighth after two wins in six matches, while the women’s side produced India’s best-ever finish at the tournament, securing fifth place. Team India during the Hockey World Cup. (AP Photo) The return to blue comes at a crucial tournament for both teams. Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya held a review meeting with the two teams’ coaches, captains and Hockey India officials and urged them to put the World Cup campaigns behind them and focus on the Olympic qualification challenge. The Harmanpreet Singh-led men’s side will enter the Asian Games as defending champions and chase an unprecedented fifth gold medal.
