Jakarta (ANTARA) – Indonesia’s padel federation is targeting its best possible result at the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, despite facing more experienced Asian rivals, a federation official said.
“We will give our best. If you ask about targets, we will give our best,” Federation of Padel Sport in Indonesia (PB PI) deputy chairman Mochtar Sarman said.
Sarman spoke to reporters at the opening of the 2026 Padel Unity Cup tournament on Saturday.
He said Indonesia hoped to improve on its bronze medal at the 2025 FIP Asia Padel Cup, where the women’s team finished third in Doha.
Sarman acknowledged winning a medal at the Asian Games would be more difficult because Indonesia would face more experienced padel nations from across Asia.
“Last year our women’s team finished third in Asia, in Qatar. Hopefully we can do better than that. Our opponents will definitely be tough,” he said.
“We have only been playing padel for two to three years, while others have been playing for seven or eight years. Hopefully we can improve on our Asia Cup result,” Sarman added.
To prepare, Indonesia sent eight top athletes, coached by Ari Moya, to Spain for a training camp lasting more than a month from August 8.
The athletes are training and competing, including a test match against Italy, to gain experience ahead of the Asian Games.
“We went there to gain knowledge, learn, compete and earn points so we can be better prepared for the Asian Games,” Sarman said.
Padel will make its official medal-sport debut at the 2026 Asian Games after the Olympic Council of Asia and International Padel Federation confirmed its inclusion in the Games program.
The decision followed a November 2025 meeting in Kuwait between FIP President Luigi Carraro and OCA Director General Husain Al Musallam.
Indonesia plans to send two men’s teams and two women’s teams, accompanied by four coaches led by Ari Moya, for padel’s Asian Games debut.
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Translator: Zaro, Kenzu
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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