Why Indonesia’s hockey players love Chak De! India

For Indonesia's up-and-coming hockey players, the 2007 Bollywood film Chak De! India holds more than just entertainment value. The movie, which chronicles an underdog women's hockey team that defies the odds to become world champions, serves as a source of inspiration for the Indonesian squad as they gear up to face India at the upcoming Asian Games.

Indonesian midfielder Ferdian Fathur Rahman, who has been part of the national team for nearly four years and competed in the 2023 Hangzhou Asian Games, is a fervent admirer of Chak De!. He frequently revisits the film, recalling the locker room monologue by Shah Rukh Khan's character, who motivates his players to rise above a challenging match situation.

Rahman particularly cherishes the scene where Kabir Khan, the coach, asks each player about their origin and delivers a powerful message of unity in diversity. He believes that this sentiment transcends Indian hockey, noting that Bollywood movies, including Chak De!, are widely watched in his hometown of Surabaya.

Firdaus Muhammad, another member of the Indonesian squad, shares similar enthusiasm for the film. He is familiar with Chak De! and can name several of the current Indian players. The film's impact on the Indonesian team is evident, as most of them have watched it at least once. Firdaus has a favorite moment from the movie – the coach's declaration that they have only 70 minutes to prove themselves and rewrite their destiny.

While the international hockey format has since shifted to four quarters of 15 minutes each, Firdaus remains motivated by the spirit of the film as he prepares to take on India in a 60-minute test.