Indonesia Sends Hockey Teams to Japan for Asian Games 2026

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Indonesian men’s and women’s field hockey teams are heading to Japan for the 2026 Asian Games, with the competition offering both squads an opportunity to improve on their previous performance and strengthen Indonesia’s presence in the sport in Asian.

The men’s team departed for Japan on Wednesday, September 15, 2026, while the women’s team left on Tuesday, September 15, to compete at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, which will take place from September 19 to October 4.

"Take care of your health and give your best when you compete. I hope they can achieve better results than at the 2022 Asian Games in Hangzhou," Executive Committee member of the Indonesian Olympic Committee (NOC Indonesia) Hengky Silatang said while seeing off the national team at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Banten on Wednesday, September 16, as quoted by Antara.

He explained that both national teams would face strong competition in Japan. The men’s team is in Group A alongside India, Japan, South Korea, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. Group B consists of Pakistan, Malaysia, China, Oman, Uzbekistan and Thailand.

The men’s team is scheduled to begin its campaign against India on September 19. The match will mark the start of Indonesia’s challenge in the field hockey group stage.

Chairman of the Indonesian Hockey Association (FHI) Executive Board, Maj. Gen. (Ret.) Budi Sulistijono, urged the players to remain focused and not be affected by their opponents’ rankings or reputation.

Budi expressed its appreciation to the Ministry of Youth and Sports, NOC Indonesia, and the Indonesian contingent’s Chef de Mission team for supporting the team’s preparations for the 2026 Asian Games.

Meanwhile, the women’s national team is in Group B with India, Japan, Thailand, Singapore and Uzbekistan. Group A consists of China, South Korea, Malaysia, Kazakhstan, Chinese Taipei and Bangladesh. The women’s team will begin its campaign on September 18 against hosts Japan. ***