Maintain fine traditions of Tatmadaw athletes who make history and relay them to new generation

NAY PYI TAW June 4

Maintain fine traditions of Tatmadaw athletes who make history and relay them to new generation

A ceremony to present certificates of honour, certificates of recognition and cash awards to medalists of the 31st SEA Games held in Vietnam and their coaches who have brought honour to the nation and Tatmadaw was held at the parlour of Bayintnaung Villa here this afternoon. Chairman of State Administration Council Commander-in- Chief of Defence Services Senior General Min Aung Hlaing delivered an address at the ceremony and presented cash awards.

Also present were Daw Kyu Kyu Hla, wife of the Senior General, SAC Vice Chairman Deputy Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Commanderin- Chief (Army) Vice-Senior General Soe Win and wife Daw Than Than Nwe, Union ministers and their wives, the Chief of General Staff (Army, Navy and Air) and wife, the Commanderin- Chief (Navy) and wife, the Commander-in-Chief (Air) and wife, senior military officers of the Office of the Commander-in- Chief and their wives, the Nay Pyi Taw Command commander and officials and medalists and coaches.

Honouring Tatmadaw athletes who make brilliant efforts for nation

In his address, the Senior General honoured medalists for their unwavering belief and conception they have placed for the country in accord with the point “Tatmadaw, with the ability to overcome difficulties” of the 12 noble traditions, amidst the many hardships triggered by COVID-19 global pandemic.

The Senior General said brilliant achievements of Tatmadaw members are obvious in the successful sectors of Myanmar sports. Their successes in internal and international games have been recorded in history. The ability of Tatmadaw footballers of the golden age of Myanmar football is still the talk of the town. Tatmadaw athletes have also won medals and improved national image in the events such as track and field, boxing, weightlifting, judo, in addition to football. They deserve honour for their all-out efforts in the interest of the nation and Tatmadaw.

Endeavours for national health and fitness and education promotion

SAC is implementing a provision “To enhance the health, fitness and education quality of the entire nation” of the social objectives included in the adopted nine objectives. In accord with the provision, it is holding sports events in the whole nation for public health and fitness and exerting efforts with added momentum to remedy the education sector hit hard by COVID-19. It reopened the basic education schools on 2 June and nearly six million students are attending classes the next day.

Annual Tatmadaw (Army, Navy and Air) sports events are for Myanmar sports to dominate the world through the production of new general athletes. There are plans to hold Tatmadaw sports events and pre-Diamond Jubilee Independence Day sports events during the third quarter.

A sports event is an indicator of the degree of patriotism of a participant nation, and it is a common knowledge. Some countries win international recognition despite their absence of political, economic and military might. So, athletes should understand the value of their sports event and should strive with national spirit for achieving greater success.

Hence, sports grounds and international-level indoor stadiums have been set up in battalions, units and headquarters. Tatmadaw members should try to be more outstanding in football, volleyball, sepak takraw, tradition chinlon, shooting, boxing, martial arts, track and field, walking, swimming and rowing that are close to their nature to become national selections who reach the international level.

It must pass fine traditions to new generation athletes as they all need to continue efforts for improve qualification

This SEA Games was the 31st time, and Tatmadaw members competed in all games as of SEA Games with bringing honour to the State. In the XXXI SEA Games, Myanmar bagged nine gold, 18 silver and 35 bronze medals, totaling 62, taking the seventh position among 11 contending countries. In this regard, as 38 Tatmadaw member athletes participated in the games, they swept three gold, two silver and eight bronze medals, totaling 13. So, the Senior General expressed his pleasure for participation of a wife of Tatmadaw member in the medalists. Especially, Tatmadaw members and their wives secured many medals in the football, volleyball, shooting, track and field, weightlifting, Judo and rowing events. Brilliant efforts of wives of Tatmadaw members as well as courage of Tatmadaw members can be seen till today. Today’s award winners need to always try hard to improve their skills and give training to new generation athletes to secure their precious experiences as part of handing over the fine traditions to them.

The Senior General said that whatever served the assigned missions and visions in the sports events, all athletes need to pour out their utmost efforts in line with 12 fine traditions of the Tatmadaw. All Tatmadaw members need to forge the spirit as never surrender whatever it may be and continue their competitions in coming events with the nationalistic spirits. They have to practice the acts asthe idols of the new generations with the pledge to bring honour to the State and the Tatmadaw.

Presenting honorary certificates and cash awards

The Senior General presented certificates of honour and cash awards to gold medalists Warrant Officer II Thein Than Oo in the Wushu singles event, Warrant Officer Zin Lin Tun and Warrant Officer Zaw Zaw in the team-wise Vovinam event. The wife of the Senior General presented certificates of honour and cash awards to gold medalist Ma Aye Aye Aung, wife of Corporal Tin Myo Lwin, in singles judo/kurash event and silver medalist Captain Daw Chit Soe Nwe in the shooting (team-wise) event.

The Vice-Senior General presented Warrant Officer II Ye Tun Naung who secured two silver medals in the shooting singles event and team-wise event, bronze medalist Sergeant Kyaw Ko Ko in the Vovinam singles event and bronze medalist Private Soe Myint Tun in the judo/kurash singles event. The wife of the Vice-Senior General presented honorary certificates and cash awards to bronze medalists Private Myo Min Htet in the wushu singles event, Private Wai Thu Lwin in the Vovinam singles event and Corporal Kyaw Zin Latt in the Sepak Takraw (team-wise) event.

The Chief of General Staff (Army, Navy and Air) presented certificates of honour and cash awards to bronze medalists Private Aung Ye Zaw and Private Aung Thu Min in the Sepak Takraw (team-wise) event and civilian substitute appointed U Win Htaik who won two bronze medals in two rowing (teamwise) events.

Adjutant General Lt-Gen Myo Zaw Thein presented certificates of honour and cash awards to Captain Nyan Soe for giving training to goal medalists in the judo/kurash events, Lance Corporal Tun Tun Win for giving training to gold medalists in the wushu event and Warrant Officer Zaw Lin Tun for giving training to bronze medalists in the rowing event respectively.

Taking pride in presentation of honorary certificate of the Commander- in-Chief of Defence Services, certificates of honour and cash awards

On behalf of medalists and coaches, an athlete spoke words of thanks, saying that they poured out the efforts in competitions to deservedly secure medals in the XXXI SEA Games with the encourage of the government, assistance of the Tatmadaw and helps of the people. On behalf of all Tatmadaw member athletes, managers and coaches, they especially took pride in honouring them by the State and promoting one step ranks by the Tatmadaw and awarding honorary certificate of the Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services, certificates of honour and cash awards.

They poledged to secure larger number of medals in the coming interational sports competitions representing the State. Then, the Senior General and party gave a tea party to victorious athletes and coaches with the entertainments of the Myawady Entertainment Troupe. After the ceremony, the Senior General and party cordiallygreeted the victorious athletes and coaches.

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