Bhubaneswar: Leader of the Opposition in the Odisha Assembly and Biju Janata Dal (BJD) president Naveen Patnaik on Thursday criticised the reported change in the Indian hockey team’s jersey colour, alleging that the move was made under pressure from the BJP government in Odisha.
Calling it an attempt to politicise the country’s national sport, Patnaik said the change undermines India’s sporting heritage and hurts the sentiments of hockey lovers across the country.
In a post on social media platform X, the former Chief Minister said the Indian hockey team’s iconic blue jersey symbolises the nation’s sporting identity and is deeply associated with the emotions of millions of Indians.
“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,” Patnaik wrote. He said the colour blue, inspired by the Ashoka Chakra in the national flag, represents national pride and belongs to every Indian.
Recalling Odisha’s contribution to Indian hockey, Patnaik said the state became the first in the country to sponsor the Indian men’s and women’s hockey teams at a time when they were struggling to secure corporate backing. He said every Odia takes pride in the state’s support, which coincided with the revival of Indian hockey and the men’s team’s historic Olympic bronze medal after a 41-year gap.
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
Alleging political interference, Patnaik said a change in the government in Odisha should not lead to a change in the identity of the national hockey team.
“Just because the government changed in Odisha, it should not change our national team colours. This is petty politics of the worst kind,” he said.
Drawing comparisons with internationally recognised sporting identities, Patnaik said India’s blue hockey jersey is as iconic as Argentina’s blue-and-white football jersey and Brazil’s yellow jersey. Altering it, he said, would amount to erasing a priceless sporting legacy.
The BJD president further alleged that the decision had been taken under pressure from the BJP government in Odisha. He claimed that over the past two years, the state government had changed the colours of public buildings, buses and bridges, and alleged that the same political approach had now extended to the national hockey team.
“I strongly condemn this attempt by BJP Odisha to politicise a national sport like hockey. It has deeply hurt the sentiments of lakhs of sports lovers across the country and the pride with which Odisha has supported the national hockey teams,” Patnaik said.
