CNN Indonesia
Thursday, 17 Aug 2023 03:05 WIB
The Indonesian Hockey National Team is excited about the 2023 Asian Games. (CNN Indonesia/Abdul Susila)
Jakarta, CNNIndonesia —
The Indonesian Men’s and Women’s Hockey National Team are confirmed to appear at Asian Games 2022 (2023) through the qualifying route and began to knit hopes of winning a gold medal.
Men’s hockey coached by Dhaarma Raj, a coach from Malaysia, has qualified for the 2022 Asian Games after winning a bronze medal in qualifying for the Asian Games in Bangkok, Thailand on 5-15 May 2022.
The women’s team won tickets to the 2022 Asian Games through a qualification that took place in Jakarta on June 6-14. Indonesia is ranked fifth in the Asian hockey championship.
Chairman of the Indonesian Olympic Committee (KOI) Raja Sapta Oktohari assessed that the dream of winning a gold medal in the 2022 Asian Games was not a matter of being realistic or not. It’s about hard work and effort.
“I convey to all, that all athletes who go to multi-events must have one goal, namely to get gold. You can’t dream of getting silver or bronze. This is not a matter of reality or rationalization,” said Okto.
“The preparation is so great, the preparation is so strong, it will bring extraordinary luck in the struggle,” he said while visiting the men’s and women’s hockey national team training in Senayan, Wednesday (16/8).
Okto then alluded to the 2023 SEA Games gold medal. At that time no one thought that Indonesia could win gold, because Malaysia was still powerful. But it was broken.
The same thing could happen at the 2023 Asian Games. The Asian hockey giants may not count on Indonesia, but there is nothing that cannot be achieved if pursued earnestly.
“For the NOC, the target must be realistic, for me, there is only one answer. Everyone who goes must get gold. It is non-negotiable. If the head of the NOC is pessimistic, what about the athletes, all must be optimistic,” he said.
Indonesian men’s hockey captain Aulia Akbar Al Ardh said the players’ motivation to contribute medals to the 2022 Asian Games was very high. All players want to create history in China later.
Preparations for the performance in Hangzhou have been going on for a month. Before appearing at the 2022 Asian Games, players will conduct a training camp in Oman as well as qualifying for the world championship.
“To be as close as possible before going to the Asian Games we will take part in the championship in Oman. That is the world cup qualification which will later be where the host will be in Oman too. The 22nd for women, 29 for men,” said Akbar.
In Dhaarma Raj’s opinion, Indonesia must fight hard to win a medal at the 2022 Asian Games. This is because the opponents it will face are world giants who usually appear in the Olympics.
“I am an international coach and I know where the Indonesian team and the other teams are. I know how difficult it is to perform at the Asian Games, now the chief wants to try his best,” said Dhaarma.
“Indonesia is not considered as an army [menakutkan]. Little Indonesia. That’s what we have to change and we have to have the courage to face giant troops at the Asian Games,” he stressed.
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