RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - The Indonesian national field hockey teams are sharpening their skills in Darwin, Australia, as part of independent training preparations for the 2026 Asian Games in Nagoya.

A total of 40 male and female players arrived on Saturday, June 20, with the program officially reported by the Indonesian Hockey Federation (FHI) on Monday, June 22. The athletes are guided by Malaysian head coach Muhammad Dhaarma Raj.

Men’s team captain Aulia Akbar Al Ardh expressed gratitude that the federation has sustained continuous training since January, despite relying on self‑funded resources.

“We hope the government will give more attention, because training camps and test matches are vital to improve quality and team cohesion ahead of the Asian Games,” he said.

Coach Dhaarma Raj noted that participation in Australia’s league is invaluable for building match experience and understanding opponents’ playing styles, made possible through FHI’s strong ties with Hockey Australia.

Eleven players have been selected to join local clubs, including Palmerston Saint HC, Waratah HC, and Banks HC.

Six male athletes--among them Aulia Akbar Al Ardh, Revo Prialindro, Suharyana, Ahdan Asasi Ramadhan, and Abdullah Jihad Al Akbar--will compete in the league, alongside five female players: Nisa Indira, Bernika Julia Mersella, Lispa, Salma Maulani, Sri Rahayu, and Lily Erlina Pasaribu.

Meanwhile, FHI Secretary‑General Yasser Arafat Suaidy confirmed that Indonesia’s U‑20 men’s junior team will compete in the AHF Cup 2026 in Kazakhstan from June 23 to July 1, as part of a long‑term development program.

The squad, selected from the 2026 junior nationals, has been in training since February. Coach Dhaarma set a semifinal target for the junior team but urged players to compete without pressure. “We want them to play freely in every match,” he said. (Diffa Sephiawardhani)