India, Sept. 20 -- The Indian men's and women's hockey teams wore saffron jerseys in their opening matches at the Asian Games on Sunday, despite Hockey India's pre-event announcement that the teams would return to their traditional blue kits.

India's men faced Indonesia while the women's team played Uzbekistan in their respective opening matches in Kakamilgahara.

The saffron jerseys had first been worn by both teams at last month's World Cup in Belgium and the Netherlands, triggering controversy within the national federation.

Hockey India president Dilip Tirkey had then said the change was made without the knowledge or approval of the federation's elected leadership and Executive Board, leading to an internal dispute with HI secretary...