Table Tennis Finally Gets A Stage At The 2025 SEA Games After 15 Years Of Vacuum

The Indonesian table tennis team at the 2025 SEA Games (Instagram/@petrusgolose88).

JAKARTA The table tennis sport finally ended a 15-year absence on the international stage by taking part in the 2025 SEA Games in Thailand.

To face the biennial multi-branch event, the Indonesian table tennis team appeared at full strength and will compete in the seven events competed by the host.

Secretary General (Sekjen) of Indonesia Pingpong League (IPL), Yon Mardiono, said that Indonesia's participation this year at the SEA Games was a long-awaited historic moment.

"Finally, Indonesian table tennis is playing again at the international level after 15 years. Surely the children are also nervous, there must be feelings," said Yon in an official statement received in Jakarta.

Participating in Thailand opened a new chapter in the revival of national table tennis. The process towards the SEA Games this time was carried out with more structured preparation. The selection of athletes is really tight and according to procedures.

The Indonesian table tennis team must face Singapore in the first match later. Singapore is the defending champion of the SEA Games.

However, Indonesia is able to provide stiff resistance in every game, which is considered a positive signal for the future of national table tennis.

In the first match of the men's team number, Naufal Junindra immediately met with the deputy Pang Koen who was the gold medalist at the 2021 Vietnam SEA Games.

Naufal appeared impressive even though he was nervous. He managed to win with a score of 3-1 as well as a positive signal for Indonesia's steps in the team number.

"Seeing Naufal's appearance, who was able to win, that's very good. His opponent's ranking is also in the top 100 in the world. Noval also has capital because previously he won WTT (World Table Tennis) in Dubai," said Yon.

Yon further emphasized that Indonesia's participation in the 2025 SEA Games was an important start after 15 years without world achievements or strong rivalry at the ASEAN level.

Indonesia's return to the international arena is expected to be able to revive the spirit of tennis lovers in the country, as well as become the starting point for the birth of a new generation of competitive Indonesian table tennis athletes on the world stage.

"This is the beginning of the evaluation for future programs so that Indonesia can be even better. We are grateful that Indonesia was given the opportunity to appear again in international events," he said.