RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta- Indonesia’s national field hockey team reignited their hopes for a spot in the 2026 Asian Games after securing a hard-fought 4-3 victory over Kazakhstan on Sunday, March 5, 2026, at the Royal Thai Air Force Hockey Field in Bangkok.

The victory serves as a crucial morale booster for the Indonesian side following a tough 1-4 loss to Oman last Friday. Having previously defeated Hong Kong 4-3 in their Pool A opener, this latest result keeps Indonesia firmly in the hunt for a top-two finish in the group.

Indonesia set the tempo early, launching a relentless offensive that caught the Central Asian side off guard. Ahdan Asasi emerged as the standout performer of the first half, breaking the deadlock in the 6th minute before doubling the lead just nine minutes later.

The momentum stayed with the Indonesians as Prastyo found the back of the net in the 31st minute, giving his team a commanding three-goal cushion.

However, Kazakhstan refused to fold. Yerkebulan Dyussebekov sparked a potential comeback with a goal in the 44th minute, cutting into the deficit.

Sensing the shift in pressure, Indonesia’s head coach Muhammad Dhaarma Raj urged his players forward, resulting in a clinical counter-attack finished by Khaerulloh Akmal to restore the lead.

The final moments of the match were a test of nerves as Kazakhstan's Agymtay Duisengazy struck twice in quick succession. Despite the late surge, the Indonesian defense held firm until the final whistle to preserve the 4-3 lead.

Coach Dhaarma Raj had previously emphasized the necessity of winning their final two pool matches to guarantee a path forward. With Kazakhstan out of the way, Indonesia faces a decisive final showdown against the host nation, Thailand, on Monday.

"The victory over Kazakhstan is in line with the target set by Dhaarma previously to win the last two matches," the team management noted, highlighting the high stakes of the upcoming regional derby, as quoted by Antara.

To secure an automatic ticket to the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, Indonesia must finish among the top two in Pool A, which would also grant them a place in the qualification semi-finals. ***