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Indonesian paraglider defies odds to rise to the top

12:34

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Ferdinand Himawan | Iryanda Mardanuz
November 28, 2025

Jafro Megawanto has gone from being a farmer's son in Indonesia to one of the best paraglider pilots in the world. With no family wealth and little government support, Jafro has defied the odds just to break into a sport that is typically closed off to people from his background. Now with his own family to feed, Jafro is determined to regain the world number one ranking.

From folding parachutes as a child to becoming Indonesia’s top paragliding athlete, Jafro Megawanto’s journey is one of grit and determination. Raised in a farming family in Batu City, he overcame financial obstackes to dominate the Paragliding Accuracy World Cup, ranking world number one from 2019 to 2021. Now, as he trains for the next World Cup in Thailand, Jafro hopes to reclaim his title despite limited support and the challenges of a niche sport.

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Sports Life — Overcoming Challenges with Sports

Everything we know about life can be found in sports: Success and failure, euphoria and despair. Sports Life tells stories from across the globe, where sports drives personal growth and changes lives.

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