For many years, blue has been the color most carefully linked with Indian sport. Throughout disciplines, Indian groups have worn blue whereas representing the nation on the worldwide stage. However forward of the FIH Hockey World Cup within the Netherlands and Belgium, Hockey India unveiled a brand new saffron jersey for each the boys’s and girls’s groups final month.The rationale, in accordance with Hockey India, was visibility. The federation stated the “blue enjoying uniform tended to mix/merge with the blue artificial enjoying floor, which is now the usual color of worldwide hockey pitches. This visible similarity affected on-field readability and visibility for the gamers.”Nevertheless, in India ladies’s first match of the second spherical of the FIH World Cup againt the co-hosts Netherlands on Friday in Amstelveen, India walked out in saffron, whereas the Netherlands performed in blue. On the identical blue turf the place India had argued blue jerseys diminished visibility. Maybe the Dutch didn’t have the identical visibility issues.The change in India’s major jersey color drew criticism from former captains Pargat Singh, Dhanraj Pillay and Viren Rasquinha when it was introduced final month.Pargat was essentially the most direct in his criticism. “Every little thing within the nation is being saffronised,” stated former India captain Pargat Singh whereas criticizing Hockey India’s choice.Dhanraj, who performed 339 worldwide matches for India, together with 4 Olympics, 4 World Cups and 4 Champions Trophy tournaments, questioned why a color related to Indian hockey for many years was changed.“The blue jersey has change into the identification of Indian hockey. Being one of many colors of our nationwide flag, saffron is vital and auspicious however it has by no means been the standard color of Indian hockey. I do not perceive why this has all of the sudden modified after so a few years,” Dhanraj was quoted as saying by information company PTI.Pargat additionally warned towards bringing politics into sport.“Every little thing within the nation is being saffronised – schooling, historical past and now sports activities too. That is worrying. Sports activities unite folks and rise above faith, caste and politics. It’s unlucky if such considering enters sports activities as properly,” he had stated after Hockey India’s choice, as quoted by PTI.In the meantime, within the match on Friday, Indian ladies’s hockey crew produced a disciplined defensive efficiency towards the hosts. Veteran goalkeeper Savita led the backline as India restricted the world No. 1 aspect and three-time defending champions for lengthy intervals.The Netherlands ultimately gained 2-0 within the first match of the second spherical on the packed Wagner Stadium. Each targets got here from penalty corners, whereas India didn’t concede a discipline purpose.The Indian goalkeepers and defenders, who had saved 12 penalty corners within the earlier match towards England, prevented the world No. 1 crew from enjoying freely on the packed Wagner Stadium, and the co-hosts couldn’t rating a single discipline purpose.
