Indonesia Hockey Teams Target Top-Six Finish at Asian Games

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Indonesian field hockey teams are using an extended training and competition program in Malaysia to improve their performance and teamwork while pursuing a top-six finish at the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Games.

Indonesian field hockey head coach Muhammad Dhaarma Raj said the players had shown progress since beginning their training camps and trial matches in Malaysia ahead of the Asian Games.

“Their performance and teamwork are improving, and we will continue evaluating them so they can be better prepared for the competition at the 2026 Asian Games,” Dhaarma said when contacted from Jakarta on Tuesday, September 1, 2026, as quoted by Antara.

He noted that Indonesia’s women’s field hockey team had been based in Malaysia from August 5 to September 3, while the men’s squad began its training camp on August 10 and is scheduled to remain there until September 10.

During the training camps, both squads have played at least 15 trial matches against clubs and teams competing in Malaysian tournaments. These fixtures have been used to gauge progress while sharpening preparations for the Asian Games.

Coach Muhammad Dhaarma emphasized that competition at Asia’s largest multi‑sport event will be far tougher than at the SEA Games, with powerhouses such as India and Japan among Indonesia’s opponents.

He noted that Indonesia’s men’s and women’s field hockey teams are not setting lofty targets for the 2026 Asian Games, but the Red‑and‑White squads remain determined to perform at their best and aim for a top‑six finish. Such an achievement would be significant, as it could open the door to the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic qualifying round.

Both teams secured their places at the Aichi‑Nagoya 2026 Asian Games through the qualification round, marking their second consecutive appearance after also advancing to Hangzhou 2022.

The Asian Games in Aichi‑Nagoya will run from September 19 to October 4, 2026. ***