Indonesian women's volleyball star Megawati Hangestri Pertiwi will be one of the Red and White flag bearers in the Indonesian contingent's parade at the opening ceremony of the 2025 SEA Games in Thailand at Rajamanggala Stadium, Bangkok, Tuesday.
"Being the flag bearer means carrying the hopes of millions of Indonesians. I will carry out this duty with pride and hope to inspire the entire team," said Megawati.
Megawati will wear traditional Lampung clothing, wearing a red kebaya combined with Tapis cloth and a Siger crown as a symbol of dignity and perseverance.
Megawati is a familiar figure in this multi-sport event, given her role as one of the most prominent women's volleyball players in recent years, both at the national and international levels.
The player born in Jember, East Java, September 20, 1999, is known by the nickname "Megatron" because of the power and accuracy of his signature smashes.
Also read: The opening ceremony of the 2025 SEA Games will feature the "Green SEA Games" concept.
Early profile and career
A reverse hitter, Megawati began her professional career at the age of 14 with Surabaya Bank Jatim. At the national level, she also played for several major Proliga clubs, including Jakarta Pertamina Energi Putri, Jakarta BNI 46 Putri, Bandung BJB Tandamata, Jakarta Pertamina Fastron, and Jakarta BIN. Megawati graduated with a bachelor's degree in management from Kahuripan University, Kediri, in 2020.
Her opportunity to play abroad came in 2020 when she joined Supreme Chonburi-E.Tech in Thailand for two seasons. In 2022, Megawati continued her career in Vietnam, playing for Ha Phu Thanh Hoa before returning to Indonesia to play for Bandung BJB Tandamata and then Pertamina Fastron in 2022–2023.
His name became increasingly well-known after joining the Daejeon CheongKwanJang Red Sparks in South Korea's V-League in 2023. In the 2023–2024 season, he emerged as one of the league's top scorers. In the following season, 2024–2025, he helped the Red Sparks reach the finals, finishing runner-up after a close battle with the Pink Spiders.
After two seasons with the Red Sparks, Megawati returned to Indonesia in 2025 to play for Gresik Petrokimia Pupuk Indonesia in the Final Four. She then played for Manisa BBSK, a Turkish Volleyball League Division 2 team, before ultimately terminating her contract by mutual agreement.
