Biju Janata Dal (BJD) president and former minister of Odisha Naveen Patnaik on Thursday criticized the decision to change the Indian hockey team’s jersey color from its traditional blue to saffron, saying it had hurt the sentiments of sports fans.The Indian men’s and women’s hockey teams will wear saffron jerseys instead of their traditional blue jerseys at next month’s FIH World Cup in the Netherlands and Belgium.The Odisha government became the sponsor of the Indian hockey team about a decade ago when Patnaik was the chief minister.“I am very distressed to know that the legendary jersey color of the Indian hockey team has been changed to saffron,” Patnaik said in a lengthy post on X after Hockey India unveiled the new jersey on its social media pages.While unveiling the jersey, Hockey India said the design and color were meant to “tell a story” and bring “India’s pride”.The federation said saffron symbolizes courage, sacrifice and victory.“Inspired by the Indian national flag and the rising sun, it reflects new beginnings,” said Hockey India.Patnaik said the blue jersey has been an important part of Indian hockey for decades.“The iconic shade of blue of the Indian hockey team is not just a color. It is an emotion associated with the nation’s sporting heritage. For decades, this color has united us in hope, in victory, in defeat and in the pursuit of sporting excellence.”Talking about his own connection with the sport, Patnaik, who was a goalkeeper for his school’s hockey team, said, “We have cried, laughed, celebrated and been proud with our men and women in blue. Wearing the blue jersey, our teams have won Olympic medals with their sport. national anthem play on the world stage.”He also said that the blue jersey represents the country.“The blue is derived from the blue chakra in our national flag. It is a symbol of our pride and national identity. The color blue belongs to every Indian.”Patnaik recalled that Odisha stepped in to support Indian hockey when the national teams were struggling to find sponsors.“When national hockey teams were struggling for sponsors, Odisha created history by being the first and only state to support national teams and the beloved game. Every Odia across the globe was proud of the state’s gift to national hockey. After 41 long years, our men’s team won an Olympic medal. Just because the government has changed in Odisha, it should not change our national team colors. This is petty politics of the worst kind.“Comparing India’s blue jersey to other iconic football shirts, he added: “Our blue jersey is to us what the iconic stripes are to Argentina, and the yellow jersey is to Brazil. It is etched in our collective memory. Any change in this color is a gross attempt to erase our precious sporting legacy. National symbols are meant to unite us, not divide us.”Patnaik claimed that he had been told that the decision was taken under pressure from the BJP government in Odisha.“Those in authority may deny it, but the fact is that for the last two years, everyone in Odisha has seen this government’s obsession with changing colors of buildings, buses and even bridges.”He said that the changing colors have become the main focus of the state government.“But now the same government has changed the colors of our national team. I strongly condemn this attempt by BJP Odisha to politicize a national game like hockey. It has deeply hurt the sentiments of lakhs of sports lovers across the country and the pride with which Odisha has supported national hockey,” said Patnaik.
