27 C The Economic Times
Elections 2026Hockey / The Economic Times
Indian hockey teams wore saffron kits for their Asian Games opening matches. This occurred despite Hockey India's prior declaration to revert to blue uniforms. The kit color change caused internal discord within the federation leadership. Visibility issues on blue turf were cited as a reason for the saffron choice. The teams have historically worn blue jerseys since their Olympic debut.
India secured the Junior Asia Cup title by defeating Korea 4-1 in the final match. This victory marked India's sixth continental crown and secured their World Cup qualification. Ajeet Yadav and Anmol Ekka scored early goals, extending India's lead significantly. Prabhdeep Singh and Ashu Maurya added further goals, solidifying their dominant performance. Hockey India announced prize money for players and support staff following this achievement.
India's men's hockey team experienced a varied World Cup history, winning gold in 1975. The team secured bronze in the inaugural 1971 tournament and reached the final in 1973. Subsequent campaigns saw mixed results, including a fifth-place finish in 1982 and a twelfth-place finish in 1986. India hosted the event twice, finishing sixth in 2018 and ninth in 2023.