Saffron jersey row: Bhola Nath disputes Tirkey's claim of being kept in the dark

Hockey India secretary general Bhola Nath Singh has contradicted president Dilip Tirkey over India's controversial switch from blue to saffron jerseys before the World Cup, claiming Tirkey was aware of the decision and its approval process.India switched from blue to saffron for their home kit. (Reuters Photo)New Delhi,Oct 31, 2026 19:21 ISTHockey India secretary general Bhola Nath Singh has pushed back against federation president Dilip Tirkey's claim that he was unaware of India's switch from their traditional blue jersey to saffron ahead of the World Cup, insisting that both officials knew about the decision.The jersey change had sparked controversy before the tournament, with Tirkey maintaining that the decision was taken without the knowledge or approval of Hockey India's Executive Board. Bhola Nath, however, said the change was made after the players and team management were presented with multiple designs and expressed a preference for saffron.BHOLA NATH'S CLAIMIn an interview with PTI, Bhola Nath also questioned the timing of the controversy, arguing that it risked distracting the players ahead of two major assignments, the World Cup and the Asian Games."For us, the game is important, hockey is important. The biggest thing is that before the World Cup, before the Asian Games, whether it is me or anyone else, it is a very open world. The one who loves hockey, it is our job not to disturb the players by raising all these issues. This could have been sorted out later," he said. Bhola Nath claimed that the players and team management were shown four to five jersey designs before settling on orange. He also directly contradicted Tirkey's version of events."About the jersey colour change, as much as Dilip Tirkey knew, I also knew. And the next day he said that he didn't know," Bhola Nath said.PLAYERS CAUGHT IN ROW The secretary general added that he had urged the players to stay away from the controversy and concentrate on their performances, given the importance of the tournaments ahead.He said the team had been exposed to the debate through social media, making it difficult to shield them from the noise surrounding the decision."All the players have mobile phones, Facebook, Instagram, they are all on social media and they watch everything on social media. Such things should not have happened. Whoever has done this, it was not good," he said.SAFFRON KIT CONTINUESThe jersey issue had resurfaced ahead of the Asian Games, when Tirkey indicated that India would return to blue as their primary kit, with white as the second choice. However, the team continued to wear saffron as its primary colour at the continental event and has also sported the same kit in the ongoing Asian Champions Trophy in Punjab.Bhola Nath maintained that the controversy had little bearing on the teams' performances, pointing to India's success at the Asian Games. Both the men's and women's teams won gold medals, while securing qualification for the Los Angeles Olympics.India's hockey teams have traditionally worn blue for much of their international history, dating back to the country's Olympic debut in 1928. The switch to saffron ahead of the World Cup therefore marked a departure from a long-standing identity, making the decision a talking point well beyond the federation.- Ends