India Hockey Teams to Wear Traditional Blue at 2026 Asian Games, Olympic Qualification on the Line

India’s men’s and women’s hockey teams will return to a familiar look at the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, with traditional blue confirmed as their first-choice jersey colour. 

Saffron/orange will serve as the alternate kit as both teams prepare for a tournament carrying significance well beyond the Asian title. The colour choice was submitted by Hockey India after the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) sought preferences from national sports federations regarding their competition kits for the multi-sport event. Hockey India selected blue as its first preference and orange as its second.

Hockey India treasurer Shekar J. Manoharan confirmed the decision, while Hockey India president Dilip Tirkey also stated that the Indian teams would take the field in blue during the Asian Games.

The return to blue gives the Indian hockey teams a familiar visual identity at an event where the stakes will be exceptionally high. The Asian Games hockey champions will earn direct qualification for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games, provided they have not already secured qualification through another route.

Blue has long been closely associated with Indian hockey, and the decision to make it the primary colour in Aichi-Nagoya brings that traditional identity back to the forefront. The choice, however, is also a practical outcome of the kit-selection process for the Asian Games. With the IOA coordinating colour preferences across India’s sporting contingent, Hockey India was asked to indicate its preferred options. The federation responded with blue as its first choice and saffron/orange as the backup.

The decision comes after India used a notably different colour combination during the 2026 World Cup in the Netherlands and Belgium. There, the team wore predominantly saffron and white kits, with Hockey India previously explaining that the change was linked to visibility because blue could blend into the blue synthetic playing surface.

The Asian Games setting presents a different situation, allowing India to return to its traditional blue as the primary playing strip. The hockey competition will be staged in Kakamigahara, around 35 kilometres from Nagoya, with the Asian Games scheduled from September 19 to October 4.

Men’s Team Begins Title Defence

India’s men enter the tournament as defending Asian Games champions after winning gold at the 2023 Hangzhou edition. Harmanpreet Singh will lead the side as it begins its campaign against Indonesia on September 20. The road to another Asian Games title will not be straightforward. India have been drawn in Pool A alongside Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, setting up a demanding group-stage campaign before the knockout rounds.

For the men, however, the tournament offers an additional incentive. Winning the Asian Games title could secure a direct berth at the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles. That makes the Asian Games one of the most important tournaments on India’s immediate calendar. Defending the continental crown would not only add another major title but could also remove the uncertainty surrounding Olympic qualification.

Women Also Eye Los Angeles Berth

India’s women’s team will also have the same Olympic qualification opportunity and will be led by captain Salima Tete, with Sjoerd Marijne serving as head coach.

The squad includes experienced campaigners such as Savita, Nikki Pradhan, Lalremsiami and Navneet Kaur, alongside younger players looking to establish themselves at the senior international level.

India’s women have been placed in a pool featuring Japan, Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia and Uzbekistan. The group-stage matches will provide the first test before the tournament moves towards the knockout phase, where the Olympic qualification opportunity will become increasingly important.

For both teams, therefore, the Asian Games will be about more than medals. The competition provides a direct pathway to Los Angeles 2028, making every match carry additional significance.

The return of blue may appear to be a small detail in the larger Asian Games picture, but it carries a sense of familiarity for Indian hockey. The colour has been a defining part of the teams’ visual identity for generations, and its presence in Japan will give both squads a recognisable look as they pursue their respective campaigns. At the same time, the orange alternative remains available should kit requirements demand a change during the tournament.

Ultimately, though, the jersey colour will matter far less than what happens once the players step onto the pitch. India’s men will be attempting to retain their Asian Games crown, while the women will be looking to mount their own challenge for the title.

Both teams also have the opportunity to turn a successful Asian Games campaign into a ticket to Los Angeles.

With the tournament approaching, the blue jersey will once again represent India on the continental stage. The expectation attached to it will be clear: compete for gold, perform under pressure and, ideally, secure Olympic qualification for 2028.