Indonesian Hockey Teams Brace for Tough Asian Games Openers

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Indonesia’s men’s and women’s field hockey squads are bracing for a stern test as they prepare to face Japan and India in their opening matches at the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi–Nagoya, Japan.

Head coach Muhammad Dhaarma Raj acknowledged the difficulty of the task, describing both opponents as Tier‑1 teams. “It will be tough to win the first matches, but we will fight,” he said in a statement on Tuesday, September 8, 2026, as quoted by Antara.

The women’s team has been drawn into Group B alongside India, Japan, Thailand, Singapore, and Uzbekistan. The men’s team will compete in Group A with India, Japan, South Korea, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka.

Dhaarma Raj set a realistic target of finishing fifth or sixth overall, noting that the women’s squad has a strong chance of achieving it. While victories against Japan may be unlikely, Indonesia hopes to secure points against Thailand, Singapore, and Uzbekistan -- teams they have beaten in past competitions such as the SEA Games 2025 and the AHF Cup Jakarta 2026.

For the men’s team, the challenge is steeper. Indonesia has never defeated India, Japan, or South Korea, and must overcome at least one of them to reach the fifth‑ or sixth‑place bracket. “If we fail, we will only be competing for seventh or eighth,” Dhaarma Raj admitted.

The Indonesian squads will depart for Japan on September 14 to complete four days of final preparations before the Games begin on September 18, 2026. ***