How a global pandemic reshaped Indonesia's pursuit of Asian Games glory
In short: Originally slated for 2022, the Asian Games in Hangzhou faced a major delay due to the COVID-19 pandemic. When the competition finally arrived in 2023, Indonesia arrived with a massive contingent of 413 athletes, facing unexpected results in sports where they had previously been dominant.
The 2022 Asian Games, held in Hangzhou, China, represented a significant shift in the sporting calendar. Due to the disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the event was postponed from its original 2022 schedule to 2023. To prepare for this rescheduled competition, the Indonesian contingent utilized specialized training programs, including a training camp located in Tianjin.
The Indonesian delegation was led by Basuki Hadimuljono, the minister of public works and public housing, who served as the chef de mission. The opening ceremony featured a display of cultural diversity through its flag bearers: Hernanda Zulfi, representing volleyball, wore traditional clothing from Rote Island in the East Nusa Tenggara region, while Nandhira Mauriskha, representing wushu, wore a traditional Betawi kebaya.
Despite the scale of the delegation, the Games brought a notable historical anomaly for Indonesia. For the first time in the history of the Asian Games, the nation failed to secure a single medal in badminton. This outcome stood in stark contrast to the broader efforts of the 413 athletes competing across various disciplines, including chess, field hockey, rowing, and sepak takraw.
The scale of participation varied significantly across different sports. For instance, the Indonesian chess association (Percasi) sent seven athletes, while the tennis squad consisted of 10 players. In field hockey, the men's team secured their spot by reaching the semifinals of the qualifying championship in Bangkok, while the women's team qualified after finishing fifth in a qualifying event held in Jakarta.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Indonesia at the 2022 Asian Games
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