Indonesia’s 432 Athletes Are Strengthening Its Team, Three Sports Are Participating in the “Gotong Royong” Program for the Asian Games

JAKARTA, KOMPAS — Indonesia will send a total of 432 athletes from 35 sports to the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Games. Three sports are “gotong royong” and demonstrate a commitment to compete in Asia by dispatching athletes independently or without state budget funding.

The Indonesian Olympic Committee (KOI) announced the composition of the Indonesian contingent on Saturday (1/8/2026). Indonesia will be reinforced by 432 athletes from 35 sports for the Asian Games, which will take place from September 19 to October 4, 2026.

This number will be supplemented by 148 coaches and officials, as well as 32 members of the Contingent Leaders’ Team or Chef de Mission (CdM). This composition is the result of an evaluation by the Ministry of Youth and Sports review team, the Indonesian Olympic Committee (KOI) Sports Commission, and the sports federations regarding athlete readiness and opportunities for achievement.

“All athletes who have departed have undergone a selection process and maximum preparation. Now, it is time for them to perform confidently, give their best, and bring honor to the name of Indonesia,” said the Chairman of KOI, Raja Sapta Oktohari.

The number of athletes for Aichi-Nagoya 2026 is larger than the previous edition in Hangzhou 2022. At that time, Indonesia sent a total of 415 athletes for 31 sports. The “Red and White” contingent won 7 gold medals.

The conditions for the upcoming Asian Games are different. The addition of sports disciplines, which also automatically increases the number of athletes, is not entirely funded by the state budget. Okto mentioned that three sports disciplines are sending athletes independently.

This option was indeed considered by the Indonesian Olympic Committee (KOI) to address the budget efficiency problems that challenge the preparation and departure of athletes. The Minister of Youth and Sports, Erick Thohir, during a meeting with Commission X of the DPR last June, stated that the budget for the national training camp for the 2026 Asian Games has significantly decreased compared to the 2022 Asian Games.

In preparation for Hangzhou, the national training budget amounts to Rp 389 billion for 31 sports and 415 athletes. Meanwhile, for Aichi-Nagoya 2026, the national training budget is Rp 81 billion for 33 sports and 361 athletes. This indicates a decrease of 79 percent from the budget for the 2022 Asian Games.

When they officially become part of the Indonesian team, their responsibility is the same, which is to deliver their best performance and strive to win medals for Indonesia.

The three sports that are departing through a self-funding scheme are boxing, fencing, and table tennis. The funding comes from their respective federations and support from partners.

Previously, padel also mentioned that they would depart independently. This was conveyed by the Chairman of the Indonesian Padel Association (PBPI), Galih Dimuntur Kartasasmita. However, the finalization regarding the number of athletes who will depart is still awaiting a decision from KOI.

Okto emphasized that, although using a different financing scheme, there is no difference in targets or performance responsibilities for all athletes participating. All athletes still have performance targets.

“When they officially become part of the Indonesian team, their responsibility is the same, which is to deliver their best performance and strive to win medals for Indonesia. The funding scheme may differ, but the performance targets remain the same,” said Okto.

According to Okto, the independent departure scheme is a form of commitment and mutual cooperation among sports branches to continue to appear on the Asian stage. Therefore, each sports branch that utilizes this scheme still undergoes the same evaluation process.

Okto emphasized that the Indonesian Olympic Committee (KOI) will ensure that all athletes who are part of the Indonesian contingent receive the same services, coordination, and support during the 2026 Asian Games.

Meanwhile, Minister of Youth and Sports Erick Thohir revealed that the determination of the Indonesian contingent is the result of an objective and professional evaluation and review process. Erick also expressed appreciation to all stakeholders who have collaborated to support the preparation of the Indonesian contingent, including sports that are departing through a self-funding scheme.

“The existence of sports branches that operate under a self-funding scheme is evidence of a collaborative spirit, demonstrating that building sports achievements is a shared responsibility. The government appreciates all federations and partners who have taken part,” said Erick.

“Regardless of the funding scheme, when wearing the Garuda emblem on their chests, all athletes carry one name: Indonesia,” he added.

Meanwhile, the Head of the Contingent or Chef de Mission (CdM) of Indonesia for the 2026 Asian Games, Todotua Pasaribu, expressed his readiness to serve the athletes to the best of his ability. Todotua assured that preparations are becoming increasingly mature to ensure that athletes can focus on preparing themselves ahead of the competition, from departure to return.

Todotua has gathered the aspirations and needs of several athletes, which will serve as a benchmark for the CdM team to make preparations. “We also continue to communicate intensively with the Ministry of Youth and Sports, the Indonesian Olympic Committee, and the national federations of the sports that will depart, ensuring that everything from preparation, departure, accommodation, competition operations, to return can run optimally,” said Todotua.

JAKARTA, KOMPAS — Indonesia will send a total of 432 athletes from 35 sports to the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Games. Three sports are “gotong royong” and demonstrate a commitment to compete in Asia by dispatching athletes independently or without state budget funding.

The Indonesian Olympic Committee (KOI) announced the composition of the Indonesian contingent on Saturday (1/8/2026). Indonesia will be reinforced by 432 athletes from 35 sports for the Asian Games, which will take place from September 19 to October 4, 2026.

This number will be supplemented by 148 coaches and officials, as well as 32 members of the Contingent Leaders’ Team or Chef de Mission (CdM). This composition is the result of an evaluation by the Ministry of Youth and Sports review team, the Indonesian Olympic Committee (KOI) Sports Commission, and the sports federations regarding athlete readiness and opportunities for achievement.

“All athletes who have departed have undergone a selection process and maximum preparation. Now, it is time for them to perform confidently, give their best, and bring honor to the name of Indonesia,” said the Chairman of KOI, Raja Sapta Oktohari.

The number of athletes for Aichi-Nagoya 2026 is larger than the previous edition in Hangzhou 2022. At that time, Indonesia sent a total of 415 athletes for 31 sports. The “Red and White” contingent won 7 gold medals.

The conditions for the upcoming Asian Games are different. The addition of sports disciplines, which also automatically increases the number of athletes, is not entirely funded by the state budget. Okto mentioned that three sports disciplines are sending athletes independently.

This option was indeed considered by the Indonesian Olympic Committee (KOI) to address the budget efficiency problems that challenge the preparation and departure of athletes. The Minister of Youth and Sports, Erick Thohir, during a meeting with Commission X of the DPR last June, stated that the budget for the national training camp for the 2026 Asian Games has significantly decreased compared to the 2022 Asian Games.

In preparation for Hangzhou, the national training budget amounts to Rp 389 billion for 31 sports and 415 athletes. Meanwhile, for Aichi-Nagoya 2026, the national training budget is Rp 81 billion for 33 sports and 361 athletes. This indicates a decrease of 79 percent from the budget for the 2022 Asian Games.

When they officially become part of the Indonesian team, their responsibility is the same, which is to deliver their best performance and strive to win medals for Indonesia.

The three sports that are departing through a self-funding scheme are boxing, fencing, and table tennis. The funding comes from their respective federations and support from partners.

Previously, padel also mentioned that they would depart independently. This was conveyed by the Chairman of the Indonesian Padel Association (PBPI), Galih Dimuntur Kartasasmita. However, the finalization regarding the number of athletes who will depart is still awaiting a decision from KOI.

Okto emphasized that, although using a different financing scheme, there is no difference in targets or performance responsibilities for all athletes participating. All athletes still have performance targets.

“When they officially become part of the Indonesian team, their responsibility is the same, which is to deliver their best performance and strive to win medals for Indonesia. The funding scheme may differ, but the performance targets remain the same,” said Okto.

According to Okto, the independent departure scheme is a form of commitment and mutual cooperation among sports branches to continue to appear on the Asian stage. Therefore, each sports branch that utilizes this scheme still undergoes the same evaluation process.

Okto emphasized that the Indonesian Olympic Committee (KOI) will ensure that all athletes who are part of the Indonesian contingent receive the same services, coordination, and support during the 2026 Asian Games.

Meanwhile, Minister of Youth and Sports Erick Thohir revealed that the determination of the Indonesian contingent is the result of an objective and professional evaluation and review process. Erick also expressed appreciation to all stakeholders who have collaborated to support the preparation of the Indonesian contingent, including sports that are departing through a self-funding scheme.

“The existence of sports branches that operate under a self-funding scheme is evidence of a collaborative spirit, demonstrating that building sports achievements is a shared responsibility. The government appreciates all federations and partners who have taken part,” said Erick.

“Regardless of the funding scheme, when wearing the Garuda emblem on their chests, all athletes carry one name: Indonesia,” he added.

Meanwhile, the Head of the Contingent or Chef de Mission (CdM) of Indonesia for the 2026 Asian Games, Todotua Pasaribu, expressed his readiness to serve the athletes to the best of his ability. Todotua assured that preparations are becoming increasingly mature to ensure that athletes can focus on preparing themselves ahead of the competition, from departure to return.

Todotua has gathered the aspirations and needs of several athletes, which will serve as a benchmark for the CdM team to make preparations. “We also continue to communicate intensively with the Ministry of Youth and Sports, the Indonesian Olympic Committee, and the national federations of the sports that will depart, ensuring that everything from preparation, departure, accommodation, competition operations, to return can run optimally,” said Todotua.