Bhubaneswar, July 30 -- BJD president and former Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Thursday felt "deeply anguished" over the change in the Indian hockey team's jersey colour from blue to orange, calling blue a symbol of India's sporting heritage and national pride.

The new jerseys were launched ahead of the FIH Men's and Women's Hockey World Cups, which are scheduled to begin on August 14 and 15, respectively, in the Netherlands and Belgium.

The change in jersey colour has sparked controversy, with former India captain and Olympian Viren Rasquinha also questioned the decision.

"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 In...