RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta – Indonesia’s rowing squad is preparing for the Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026 with a clear ambition: to deliver medals even though their international exposure ahead of the event has been limited. The team will field 17 athletes across eight events from September 19 to October 4 in Japan.

Head coach Muhammad Hadris explained that 15 athletes will compete as main entries, while two will serve as reserves. “Our review with Ministry of Youth and Sports set the target clearly: medals. That remains our focus,” he said on Thursday, August 6, 2026, as quoted by Antara. The roster includes 12 men and five women, supported by six coaches and a manager.

Training has centered on maintaining aerobic quality and sharpening on-water performance. Internal race simulations in Pangalengan, West Java, are used to measure times and finalize athlete composition.

With just one international test--the Asian Rowing Cup in Chungju, South Korea, last April--the team is relying heavily on domestic simulations and monitoring results from global competitions such as the World Rowing Championships in Amsterdam later this month.

Despite these constraints, Hadris is optimistic. Current training results show athletes performing at 92–95 percent of gold-medal benchmarks, with two more simulations planned before departure.

The team has also requested early arrival in Japan to set up equipment before the venue opens on September 16. “We need to be in Aichi by the 14th or 15th to prepare our gear properly,” Hadris noted.

Indonesia’s rowing contingent includes names such as La Memo, Rendi Setia Maulana, Febrian, Asuhan Pattiiha, Sulpianto, Ardi Isadi, Ihram, Ferdiansyah, Rafiq Wijdan Yasir, Ali Mardiansyah, Kakan Kusmana, M. Ikbal for the men’s team, and Mutiara Rahma Putri, Issa Behuku, Chelsea Corputty, Nurtang, Aisah Nabila for the women’s team.

While the squad faces challenges in benchmarking against Asia’s strongest rivals, the focus remains on converting preparation into podium finishes.

The campaign reflects Indonesia’s determination to strengthen its presence in Asian rowing competitions, build resilience through domestic simulations, and pursue long-term growth in international rowing. ***