Indonesia Hockey Teams Target 2026 Asian Games Qualification in Nagoya

Indonesia is intensifying preparations for its national hockey teams as they aim to qualify for the 2026 Asian Games, scheduled to take place in Aichi and Nagoya, Japan, from September 19 to October 4, 2026. While the nation is focusing on nine of the eleven esports titles featured at the Games, it will not participate in League of Legends, marking the second time Indonesia has opted out of the popular MOBA tournament at the Asian Games. The decision regarding League of Legends was confirmed by Richard “frgd[ibtJ]” Permana, head coach of the Indonesian national esports team, according to a statement published by Antara News, the Indonesian press agency. Indonesia will also be absent from the Puyo Puyo Champions competition. However, the country intends to compete in Honor of Kings, fighting games, and Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, where it is considered a strong contender. This follows similar decisions by Thailand and Japan, who have also withdrawn from the League of Legends tournament. Indonesia’s previous participation in League of Legends at the Asian Games was in 2018, when the event debuted as an esports demonstration. The withdrawal of these three nations – Indonesia, Thailand, and Japan – leaves uncertainty surrounding the competitive landscape of the League of Legends tournament at the 2026 Games. The 2026 Asian Games will be hosted in Aichi Prefecture and Nagoya, making Nagoya the third Japanese city to host the event, following Tokyo in 1958 and Hiroshima in 1994. The Games are expected to feature 46 nations and 461 events across 43 sports and 62 disciplines. The event returns to its traditional four-year cycle after the 2022 edition, originally scheduled for 2022, was postponed to 2023 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Olympic Council of Asia approved the joint bid from Aichi Prefecture and Nagoya to host the Games in 2016, resolving earlier financial disagreements between the two entities.