Indonesia Claims Three Golds at Boccia Worlds

RRi.CO.ID, Seoul - Indonesia's national boccia team made history at the 2026 World Boccia Championship in Seoul, South Korea, winning three gold medals and one silver in its very first appearance at the world championship. The tournament, held from August 24 to September 4, 2026, saw Indonesia finish as the country with the most gold medals, ahead of Thailand and Hong Kong.

Indonesia's three golds came from Handayani in the women's BC1 category, Muhammad Afrizal Syafa in the men's BC1 category, and the mixed BC1/BC2 team of Afrizal Syafa, Felix Ardi Yudha, and Gischa Zayana. An additional silver medal was secured by Felix Ardi Yudha in the men's individual BC2 event, rounding out Indonesia's strong showing in its debut appearance.

By comparison, closest rival Thailand collected two gold and two silver medals, while Hong Kong took home one gold, two silver, and two bronze medals. The result cements Indonesia's status as an emerging force to be reckoned with on the world boccia stage.

Indonesia Boccia head coach Islahuzzaman Nur Yadin said the outcome matched the coaching team's projections from the outset, crediting the athletes for maintaining confidence and consistency throughout the competition. "The medal results in each class were actually something we predicted, including [the strength of] our opponents. We had a strong hold on the men's and women's BC1 classes, as well as the men's BC2 team category. This result matched our prediction," Islah said on Sunday, September 6, 2026.

On September 8, 2026, Indonesia's Ministry of Youth and Sports (Kemenpora) conveyed its appreciation for the achievement, noting that the medal haul in Seoul reflects the steady progress of national boccia development and reinforces the government's support for the athletes as they prepare for the upcoming Asian Para Games and the road to the 2028 Paralympics.

The Seoul result also serves as important capital for Indonesia's push toward the 2028 Los Angeles Paralympics, as points earned at the world championship carry significant weight in the ranking system leading up to the Games. Particular attention is being paid to the women's BC1 category, where Handayani is expected to keep accumulating points to improve her world ranking after Indonesia had no representative in that event at the 2024 Paris Paralympics.

Following the success in Seoul, Indonesia's boccia team has immediately shifted its focus to the 2026 Asian Para Games in Nagoya, Japan, set for October 18-24, 2026. The roughly one-month gap will be used to evaluate the world championship performance and sharpen preparations, with Thailand, Hong Kong, and Japan expected to be strong competitors. "We're confident the athletes heading to the Asian Para Games in Nagoya will be ready to compete. We'll make the most of this one month to train further," Islah said.

Handayani, for her part, is not dwelling on the euphoria and is already preparing for Nagoya by refining her technique, particularly her first ball and long-distance shots, while Felix Ardi Yudha who won silver individually and gold with the mixed BC1/BC2 team said the world championship experience was an invaluable lesson ahead of the Asian Para Games and that he will also work on sharpening his mental game and decision-making on the court.

With three gold medals and one silver from Seoul in hand, Indonesia's boccia team now carries valuable momentum into the 2026 Asian Para Games in Nagoya while keeping alive its hopes of competing at the 2028 Los Angeles Paralympics.