'Attempt To Erase Priceless Sporting Legacy': E Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik Slams Hockey Jersey Colour Change

Published 31 July 2026 · local

'Attempt To Erase Priceless Sporting Legacy': E Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik Slams Hockey Jersey Colour Change Published By, Last Updated: July 31, 2026, 07:50 IST

'Attempt To Erase Priceless Sporting Legacy': E Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik Slams Hockey Jersey Colour Change Published By, Last Updated: July 31, 2026, 07:50 IST The new jerseys were introduced ahead of the FIH Men's and Women's Hockey World Cups, which are scheduled to begin on August 14 and 15, respectively BJD president Naveen Patnaik questions Hockey India's decision to change the colour of jersey from blue to orange Biju Janata Dal (BJD) chief and former Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik Thursday said he was “deeply anguished" over the change in the Indian hockey team’s jersey colour from blue to orange. He argued that the move was an “attempt to erase our priceless sporting legacy". The new jerseys were introduced ahead of the FIH Men’s and Women’s Hockey World Cups, which are scheduled to begin on August 14 and 15, respectively. On July 27, Hockey India announced that both teams would don saffron jerseys instead of their traditional blue kits at the games in the Netherlands and Belgium. In a post on ‘X’, Naveen Patnaik wrote: “I am deeply anguished to know that the legendary colour of the Indian hockey team’s jersey has been changed to saffron. The iconic shade of blue of the Indian hockey team is not just a colour. It is an emotion associated with the nation’s sporting heritage." Reflecting on the significance of the traditional shade of blue, he said: “For decades, this colour united us in hope, in victory, in defeat and in the pursuit of sporting excellence. We have cried, laughed, celebrated and stood proudly with our men and women in blue. Wearing the blue jersey our teams have won Olympic medals with the national anthem playing on the world stage.

#Blue is derived from the blue chakra in our national flag. It is a symbol of our national pride and identity. The colour blue belongs to every Indian." I am deeply anguished to know that the legendary colour of the Indian hockey team’s jersey has been changed to saffron. The iconic shade of blue of the Indian hockey team is not just a colour. It is an emotion associated with the nation’s sporting heritage.For decades, this… pic.twitter.com/4cgXOvpxdJ — Naveen Patnaik (@Naveen_Odisha) July 30, 2026 Patnaik, one of the longest-serving Chief Ministers in India, targeted the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Odisha and argued that it should not interfere with the national team colours “just because the government changed" in the state. “When the national hockey teams were struggling for sponsors, #Odisha created history by being the first and only state to support our national teams and our 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 changed in Odisha, it should not change our national team colours. This is petty politics of the worst kind", Patnaik wrote. “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 colour, is a crass attempt to erase our priceless sporting legacy. symbols are meant to unite us not divide", he added. ‘Step Taken Under Pressure’ Naveen Patnaik concluded that the step was taken “under pressure" from the BJP government in Odisha as he expressed his strong condemnation over the move.