Indonesian beach volleyball coach Koko Prasetyo believes the pair of Imam Agus Faisal and Fairuz Bayhaqly have yet to deliver their best performance in the group stage of the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games. Maintaining composure during matches is one of the areas the players need to improve before their next game.
Koko made the assessment after Imam/Fairuz secured their first group-stage victory. They defeated Hong Kong’s Leec Cheuk Hei/Lee Lit Fung in straight sets, winning 21-18 and 21-19.
According to Koko, the victory was a positive result, but several aspects of their performance still need to be improved. He felt his players were not calm enough on the court, preventing them from fully demonstrating their abilities.
In addition to composure, Koko highlighted the pair’s ball reception, or receive, as an area requiring particular attention. Improving this aspect is considered important to help Imam/Fairuz maintain greater consistency throughout their matches.
The coach also asked the Indonesian pair to improve their attacking patterns after successfully withstanding pressure from their opponents. The transition from defense to attack remains one of the areas of their game that needs further development.
The victory over Hong Kong was an important boost for Imam/Fairuz as they seek to maintain their chances of advancing to the knockout stage. The result gave them a win after they had previously lost their opening match.
In their first match, Imam/Fairuz were defeated by Kazakhstan’s Sergey Borgatu/Kirill Gurin. The match was closely contested and went to three sets before the Indonesian pair lost 1-2.
Imam/Fairuz won the first set 24-22. However, the Kazakh pair fought back by taking the second set 19-21 and securing the deciding set 12-15.
With one win and one loss, Imam/Fairuz’s next match will be important in determining their chances of advancing to the next round. Koko hopes the players can remain calmer and reduce errors in receiving the ball.
The evaluation will form part of the Indonesian pair’s preparations for their upcoming match. The coaching staff will also work to ensure that Imam/Fairuz’s technical skills and playing patterns become more consistent in their next appearance.
Nadia Lestari is a culture and society journalist at RakyatPost who focuses on youth culture, community stories, social issues, and contemporary lifestyle trends across Southeast Asia. She is passionate about highlighting diverse voices, human-interest stories, and the evolving relationship between society, media, and digital culture. Through thoughtful and engaging storytelling, Nadia aims to create meaningful journalism that informs, connects, and inspires readers.
