Indonesia's National Boccia Team Makes History in Seoul, a Valuable Preparatory Asset Ahead of the 2028 Paralympic Games

Indonesia's National Boccia Team has made history after winning the 2026 World Boccia Championship held in Seoul, South Korea from 24 August to 4 September. The Red and White Team collected three gold medals and one silver medal.

This achievement marks a major milestone for Indonesian boccia. For the very first time, Indonesia qualified to compete in the World Boccia Championship, and capped off their debut with the highest possible accomplishment.

"The points we earned from this championship carry very high weight, equivalent to Paralympic Games points," stated Indonesian Boccia Coach Islahuzzaman Nur Yadin in an official press release from Jakarta.

Boccia is a precision sport with similarities to bocce or lawn bowling. This discipline was created specifically for athletes with severe physical disabilities, primarily wheelchair users including those living with cerebral palsy, and is one of the official sports contested at the Paralympic Games.

Three Golds and One Silver

Indonesia's three gold medals were won by Handayani in the Women's BC1 class, Muhammad Afrizal Syafa in the Men's BC1 class, as well as the BC1/BC2 mixed team consisting of Afrizal Syafa, Felix Ardi Yudha and Gischa Zayana.

Meanwhile, the single silver medal was contributed by Felix Ardi Yudha from the Men's BC2 class.

This medal haul put Indonesia at the very top of the championship medal table. Thailand finished as closest rivals with two golds and two silvers, while Hong Kong recorded one gold, two silver and two bronze medals.

This success did not come overnight. Prior to this tournament, Indonesia had already demonstrated consistent form by winning titles at second-tier international competitions held in Kazakhstan and Portugal.

Nur Yadin expressed pride that his athletes were able to carry this consistent performance onto the highest competitive stage.

Confidence was one of the key factors. The athletes maintained their composure and consistency when facing the world's top opponents, while also proving that Indonesian boccia has now built a solid foundation to compete at international level.

Medals Matched Pre-Tournament Predictions

Even though this was Indonesia's first ever appearance at the world championships, the coaching team had already identified which event categories stood the best chance of delivering top results.

"We knew we could compete strongly in Men's BC1, Women's BC1, and the mixed BC1/BC2 team category. This outcome is exactly what we predicted," he stated.

Those predictions came to fruition in Seoul. Handayani and Afrizal Syafa each claimed gold in their individual events, while Indonesia's strength was once again on display through the mixed BC1/BC2 team competition.

The World Boccia Championship carries strategic importance, as ranking points awarded at the tournament directly impact Indonesia's qualification chances for the next Paralympic Games.

Chasing Qualification For The Los Angeles 2028 Paralympics

The world championship in Seoul forms a critical milestone on Indonesia's path towards the Los Angeles 2028 Paralympic Games.

Every point accumulated will be used to improve Indonesia's standing in the Paralympic qualification rankings.

"These points we have earned are vital for securing our position for the Los Angeles 2028 Paralympics," Yadin noted.

The Women's BC1 class is one of the team's main priority areas, with Handayani as Indonesia's leading athlete to continue accumulating ranking points.

"At the Paris 2024 Paralympics, Handayani had not yet secured an official ranking. This year we targeted the world championship circuit, she consistently reached podiums and was ultimately able to maintain this excellent form here," he explained.

Handayani's performance in Seoul is part of this steady progress. Her consistent podium finishes throughout the tournament have opened up the opportunity to collect large amounts of valuable ranking points.

Even so, the road to Los Angeles remains long. Following their triumph in Seoul, the coaching and athlete team will have very little rest time, with the next major competition already on the horizon.

Focus Shifts to the 2026 Asian Para Games

The next target is the 2026 Asian Para Games, which will be held 18-24 October in Nagoya, Japan.

Success at the World Boccia Championship has given Indonesia a major confidence boost, though it also brings raised expectations ahead of competition at the continental Asian level.

With three gold and one silver medal won in Seoul, Indonesian boccia has sent a clear message: the nation is no longer just a participant on the global sporting stage.