Indonesian Wushu Team Requires Overseas Sparring to Mature Asian Games Preparations

The Indonesian national wushu team requires overseas sparring sessions to mature its preparations for competition at the 2026 Asian Games, according to the Indonesian Wushu Executive Board (PBWI). “So (the sparring) can boost morale. However, for this year, signs (of the sparring taking place) have not yet appeared,” said PBWI Secretary General Ngatino during a discussion with Chef de Mission for the Indonesian Contingent to the 2026 Asian Games, Todotua Pasaribu, who was monitoring the national training camp in Jakarta on Tuesday. He stated that an overseas trial programme is an urgent need for Indonesian wushu athletes to hone their skills and competitive mentality. PBWI, he said, has planned a sparring programme in China, which has many elite athletes, to test the abilities of Indonesian athletes. Not only for fighting disciplines, Ngatino assessed that the training atmosphere in China is also greatly needed by athletes competing in taolu, or artistic, events. “Sparring here in Indonesia is limited, there are no opponents. Over there in China, there are many, and when I visited, it was common for one athlete to face four opponents, rotating, rotating players. We need something like that,” he said. To realise the sparring programme, PBWI acknowledged it requires funding support from the Ministry of Youth and Sports. Ngatino asked Chef de Mission Todotua to help convey the federation’s aspirations in order to maximise preparations for achieving success at the largest multi-sport event in Asia. “Hopefully our hopes will be considered, the sparring matches, to train their mentality. There are still a few months left, if possible, please give them the opportunity,” he said.