Mapping Indonesia's path to glory at 2026 Asian Games

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Standing on the threshold of the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, the official directive resting upon the shoulders of the Indonesian athletic delegation appears deceptively modest.

Compared to the national achievement at the Hangzhou 2022 Asian Games, where the team proudly returned home with seven gold medals, Indonesia enters the upcoming multi-sport showcase in Japan with a far more conservative expectation of winning "only" four gold medals.

To pursue this carefully calibrated objective, the "Red and White" contingent is sending a grand total of 430 elite athletes to compete across 35 distinct sporting disciplines.

This final number represents a slight reduction from the 432 athletes initially registered during the preliminary "entry by name" registration phase.

The official squad roster was trimmed by two following the official Delegation Registration Meeting held immediately prior to the team's scheduled departure for Japan.

The reduced target for Aichi-Nagoya is primarily driven by shifting competitive circumstances rather than a decline in athletic capability.

Three of the seven gold medals won in Hangzhou originated from disciplines that have been completely removed from the official competition program for the 2026 edition.

Specifically, these dropped events include two "running target" shooting disciplines and the men's 1,000-meter dragon boat race.

Deprived of these reliable historical strongholds, national sports strategists have been forced to look elsewhere to fill the void.

From the beginning of the campaign, central sports authorities designated sport climbing, weightlifting, and badminton as the core pillars tasked with leading the national gold hunt.

However, as the formal opening ceremony scheduled for September 19 draws near, the broader landscape of Indonesian athletic opportunities reveals a far more expansive array of potential podium finishes.

Sport climbing

Sport climbing stands firmly at the forefront of the country's high-performance expectations.

The Indonesian Sport Climbing Federation (FPTI) is fielding a formidable team of nine athletes, carrying a specific federation target of securing two gold medals across the speed and lead disciplines.

In the speed climbing category, Indonesia relies on Paris 2024 Olympic gold medalist Veddriq Leonardo and Aditya Tri Syahria in the men's division, alongside world-renowned talent Desak Made Rita Kusuma Dewi and Berthdigna Devi in the women's division.

Although Indonesia's dominance in speed climbing is well-established, rival powerhouses like China present a constant threat in an event where a single slip or false start instantly eliminates a contender.

Meanwhile, history-making climber Putra Tri Ramadani—popularly known as Srondeng—leads the charge in the lead event after capturing a historic gold medal at the World Climbing Series in Prague and following it up with multiple podium finishes across subsequent international series events.

Weightlifting

Weightlifting serves as another vital cornerstone of national medal hopes.

During the official contingent send-off ceremony, the Indonesian Weightlifting Association (PABSI) Chairman Rosan Roeslani set a firm target of one gold medal alongside prospective silver and bronze finishes.

Public expectations center heavily on Hangzhou Asian Games champion Rahmat Erwin Abdullah and Paris 2024 Olympic gold medalist Rizki Juniansyah.

Because the two star lifters compete in different weight categories, Indonesia possesses two independent opportunities for gold without forcing its top athletes into direct competition against each other.

However, Asian weightlifting powerhouses such as China and North Korea present formidable competition, particularly following recent weight-class restructuring across the discipline.

Badminton

In badminton, the governing body faces a distinct set of tactical challenges.

The Badminton Association of Indonesia (PBSI) has been assigned a target of one gold medal, with expectations specifically placed on the men's team event.

The Indonesian squad features notable singles talent, including Jonatan Christie and Alwi Farhan, backed by seasoned doubles combinations in Fajar Alfian paired with Muhammad Shohibul Fikri, as well as Leo Rolly Carnando paired with Daniel Marthin.

While this depth provides a clear advantage in team play, competing in Asia remains incredibly fierce given the presence of elite squads from China, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, India, Thailand, and Taiwan.

Other sports

Beyond these three primary sports, Indonesia's pathways to securing gold are remarkably diverse.

In cycling, national organizers are aiming for one gold medal across several events, highlighted by BMX star Amellya Nur Sifa, who enters the tournament with the explicit mission of defending her Asian Games crown on the track in Nagoya.

Skateboarding offers another realistic avenue for medals, with Indonesia targeting one gold, one silver, and one bronze medal from a squad of eight athletes.

SEA Games 2025 champion Basral Graito is projected to contend for gold in the men's street event, supported by Hangzhou silver medalist Sanggoe Darma Tanjung, despite facing fierce competition from Japan's elite home-soil skaters.

Wushu brings an exceptional track record, having produced gold medals for Indonesia in the previous two Asian Games.

The current delegation of 13 taolu and sanda athletes arrived in Japan after completing intensive final preparations in China.

Attention is centered on 2025 SEA Games champion Samuel Marbun, who aims to upgrade his Hangzhou silver medal in the 65-kilogram sanda class into gold.

Esports has also evolved into a legitimate medal contributor rather than a mere secondary sport.

The Indonesian Esports Association (PB ESI) has established a minimum target of one gold, three silver, and four bronze medals across eight titles, with the eFootball division identified as a primary contender for gold.

Ultimately, while the primary target remains four gold medals, the overall map of opportunities stretches across multiple athletic disciplines.

Secondary sports such as archery, mixed martial arts, sepak takraw, shooting, athletics, karate, judo, and rowing may not sit at the absolute forefront of the gold rush, but their performance could serve as the final deciding factor in Indonesia's ultimate standing at Aichi-Nagoya.

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