Indonesia's Teqball Debut Off to Strong Start as Yoga Ardika Wins Twice

Competing in Group B at the Nagoya City Higashi Sports Center in Nagoya, Japan, on Thursday, September 17, 2026, Yoga secured back-to-back wins to strengthen his chances of advancing to the next stage and keep Indonesia's medal hopes alive in the sport's Asian Games debut.

The 21-year-old first overcame Vietnam's Truong Giang Ba in a three-set battle, winning 7-12, 12-11, 12-8. He then followed up with a more comfortable straight-sets victory over Laos' Alisa, 12-5, 12-6.

"I stayed focused on the abilities we have and remained confident. We are focused on our goal," Yoga said in a statement released by the Indonesian Olympic Committee (NOC Indonesia), as quoted by Antara.

"We worked very hard in training, so we cannot allow ourselves to be defeated by nerves in a situation like this," he added.

The Indonesian admitted he experienced some tension during his first Asian Games appearance but said he managed to handle the pressure by concentrating on his own game rather than the occasion.

Instead of being distracted by the atmosphere of the tournament, Yoga relied on the extensive preparation he had undergone with the national team in the buildup to the Games.

The Sports Management student at Jakarta State University believes that preparation has become one of his biggest strengths in dealing with high-pressure matches.

Despite the encouraging start, Yoga still faces a challenging path in Group B, with matches remaining against representatives from South Korea, Japan, and the Philippines.

He described all three opponents as strong competitors, particularly the Philippines, a team Indonesia has faced before.

"We know South Korea is next, while Japan and the Philippines also have very good players. We have played against the Philippines before and they have a strong game. We just need to stay focused on our own performance," Yoga said.

With two victories already secured, Yoga hopes to maintain his momentum in the remaining group-stage matches and help Indonesia move closer to its first-ever teqball medal at the Asian Games.

"We ask for your support and prayers so that the Indonesian Teqball Team can perform at its best. Hopefully we can deliver the first Asian Games teqball medal for Indonesia," he concluded. ***