RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - The Indonesian sport climbing team heads to Spain this week carrying higher expectations after a disappointing finish in China, where the squad managed to secure only one bronze medal at the opening World Climbing Series event of the season.

Competing at the IFSC World Climbing Series Madrid 2026 on May 28-31, the Indonesian team hopes to regain momentum and strengthen preparations for the 2026 Asian Games as the country sends seven athletes to battle increasingly fierce international competition in the speed discipline.

Indonesia's speed climbing coach Galar Pandu Asmoro said the team is determined to improve on its result from the Wujiang series in China two weeks before.

“For the speed discipline, this is the second series of the season, so of course we want to perform better than in Wujiang because this is also part of our preparation for the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, in September,” Galar said before the team’s departure from Soekarno-Hatta Airport in Tangerang, Banten, on Wednesday, May 27, 2026, as quoted by Antara.

The Indonesian Sport Climbing Association (FPTI) is sending seven athletes to compete in Madrid, with the speed events beginning on May 30. The men’s squad includes Veddriq Leonardo, Antasyafi Robby Al Hilmi, Raharjati Nursamsa, and Aditya Tri Syahria.

The women’s team features Desak Made Rita Kusuma Dewi, Rajiah Salsabillah, and Berthdigna Devi Surya Kusuma. Galar said Kiromal Katibin had originally been included in the squad plans but was forced to withdraw due to an injury before departure.

He noted that competition in the speed discipline has become increasingly intense this season, with many countries continuing to improve their climbing times. As a result, Indonesian athletes are expected to deliver their best performances and maintain consistency from the qualification rounds onward.

At the Wujiang series, Indonesia secured only one bronze medal through Desak Made Rita Kusuma Dewi. This result has become part of the coaching team’s evaluation process as they seek to improve the athletes’ performances in Madrid and sharpen their readiness for the 2026 Asian Games. ***