Indonesia Takes Asian Games Men's Sepak Takraw Bronze

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Indonesia won the bronze medal in the men's sepak takraw team event at the 2026 Asian Games after losing to Malaysia in the semifinals at Nagoya City Mizuho Park Gymnasium in Japan on Thursday, Sept. 24.

Indonesia and Malaysia needed three matches to determine the winner after each side claimed one of the opening contests.

“If you look at the overall match, it was quite even. We were just a little unfortunate. In the first match, we managed to win,” Indonesia men's sepak takraw coach Andi Nuralim Kaba said after the match, as quoted by Antara.

Indonesia, represented by Muhammad Hardiansyah Muliang, Gelvin A. Usman, Saiful Rijal, Yudha Aswinatama, Rizki Yusuf Djaina, Jelki Ladada, Syamsul Akmal, Muhammad Ubaidur and Andi Try Sandi Saptura, opened the semifinal with a victory in the first match.

Indonesia won the opening set 15-10 before Malaysia responded with a 15-13 victory in the second set. Indonesia then took the deciding set 15-13 to secure the first match 2-1.

Malaysia bounced back in the second match and won in straight sets. Indonesia lost 10-15 in the first set and 6-15 in the second, leaving the overall score tied at 1-1 and forcing a decisive third match.

In the deciding match, Indonesia won the first set. However, Malaysia turned the match around in the second set.

Indonesia led 11-7 but lost the set after Malaysia rallied to win 15-11, forcing a deciding third set.

“We were leading in the second set, but Malaysia managed to finish strongly again. Then it went to a tie-break in the third set, and Malaysia won,” Andi said.

The final set was closely contested. The score was tied at 5-5 and later 9-9 as both teams battled for a place in the final. Indonesia also filed a challenge during the match.

“Our target was to reach the semifinals. Thank God we achieved it, and we have to be grateful,” Andi said.

According to Andi, the result marked an improvement from the previous Asian Games in Hong Kong, when Indonesia's men's sepak takraw team failed to reach the semifinals.

“Alhamdulillah, this time we managed to make it into the top four,” he said.

Indonesia's women's team was set to face South Korea in the semifinals for a place in the final. ***