In a groundbreaking move, Indonesia has taken a bold step towards improving its ice hockey performance by naturalizing four Russian players.
This marks the first-ever naturalization of ice hockey players in Indonesia, a country traditionally known for its passion for sports like football and badminton, but not as much for winter sports.
The four players, Savelii Molchcanov, Evgenii Nurislamov, Artem Bezrukov, and Adel Khabibullin, are joining Indonesian ice hockey clubs like Phoenix Tangerang, Badax, and Batavia Demons. Their naturalization was approved during a working meeting (raker) with the Indonesian Parliament (DPR RI) and the Ministry of Youth and Sports (Kemenpora) on August 26th, 2023.
The goal behind this move is not only to elevate the sport of ice hockey in Indonesia but also to strengthen the national ice hockey team as it targets regional and international competitions.
A New Chapter in Indonesia's Ice Hockey Journey
While ice hockey is not widely recognized in Indonesia compared to sports like football, the naturalization of foreign players could be a turning point for the sport in the country.
Wamenpora (Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports), Taufik Hidayat, highlighted that this was the first time Indonesia has undertaken such a move for ice hockey, emphasizing the potential benefits for the nation's sporting future.
This historic decision follows intensive communication between Kemenpora and Russia's Ministry of Sports, signaling a growing partnership in the world of sports between the two nations. Indonesia has already established diplomatic ties with Russia in various areas, including sports, and ice hockey is now one of the outcomes of this bilateral relationship.
The Road to International Competitions
The primary aim of integrating these Russian players into the national team is to boost Indonesia's performance in international competitions. The short-term target is to win gold medals at the SEA Games in 2025, 2027, and 2029.
Along with this, the team aims to strengthen its position in the World Championship Division IV, with the goal of promoting to Division III. These immediate objectives are part of Indonesia’s ambitious plan to develop a competitive ice hockey culture.
In the long run, Indonesia is aiming for gold medals in the Asian Winter Games and positioning itself in the top 30 in the global rankings by 2040. A more challenging goal is to qualify for the Winter Olympics in 2045, a feat that would be a remarkable achievement for a country relatively new to winter sports.
Expanding Ice Hockey's Popularity in Indonesia
One of the key benefits of this naturalization is raising awareness about ice hockey among the Indonesian public. Wamenpora pointed out that, unlike football or badminton, ice hockey is still relatively unknown to many Indonesians.
With the arrival of experienced international players, the hope is that more Indonesians will start to follow and appreciate the sport.
Through this move, Indonesia is not only investing in its ice hockey team but also creating a pathway for the younger generation to get involved in winter sports. The long-term vision is to foster homegrown talent in ice hockey, which could eventually result in Indonesian athletes making their mark on the international stage.
A Bright Future Ahead for Indonesian Ice Hockey
With the addition of these skilled Russian players, Indonesia’s national ice hockey team is now better equipped to compete on the regional and global stage.
According to Ronald Situmeang, the Chairman of the Indonesian Ice Hockey Federation (FHEI), this move is an important step in preparing for upcoming international competitions and ensuring that Indonesia’s team can compete at the highest level.
The naturalization of foreign players, while not new to sports like football, is a unique step for ice hockey and could be a game changer for Indonesia’s future in winter sports. By fostering international partnerships and investing in foreign expertise, Indonesia is positioning itself as a serious contender in the world of ice hockey.
