Ceremony to honour Myanmar sports teams that won medals in 32nd SEA Games held; Chairman of State Administration Council Prime Minister Senior General Min Aung Hlaing delivers address
NAY PYI TAW June 1
A ceremony to honour Myanmar sports teams that won medals in 32nd SEA Games hosted by Cambodia by the State was held at Wanna Theikdi Stadium B here this morning addressed by Chairman of State Administration Council Prime Minister Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, who also presented honourary awards.
Present together with the Senior General were SAC Vice Chairman Deputy Prime Minister Vice-Senior General Soe Win, SAC Joint Secretary Lt-Gen Ye Win Oo, SAC members, union ministers, union level officials, the Nay Pyi Taw Council chair, Chief of General Staff (Army, Navy and Air) General Maung Maung Aye, senior military officers from the Office of the Commander-in-Chief, the Nay Pyi Taw Command commander, deputy ministers, members of Myanmar Olympic Council, chairs and vice chairs of Myanmar sports federations,honoured guests, athletes who bring honour to the nation, managers and coaches and officials.
The Senior General said Myanmar sent 341 athletes who took part in 19 events and 104 mana-gers/coaches totaling 445 to SEA Games. The Myanmar contingent won 21 gold medals, 25 silver medals and 68 bronze medals totaling 114 medals.
It is a joy and honour for the entire people that both male and female football teams reached semifinal. The women’s team met strong teams from Vietnam, Philippines and Malaysia in the group stage. Myanmar team fairly beat ASEAN giant Thai team in the semifinal and reached the final for the first time after 2005. Hence, they could give satisfaction to the people to a certain degree.The significance of the games is that Myanmar contingent won the largest number of medals abroad after 1981.
A total of 6,210 athletes from 11 countries took part in the 32nd SEA Games. The number of athletes of each contingent from host Cambodia, Philippines and Thailand exceeded 800. Vietnam sent over 700 athletes, Malaysia over 600, Indonesia, Laos and Singapore over 500 each, and Myanmar 341.
Host country and Philippines took part in all 36 events of the games, and Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, Indonesia and Singapore in over 30 events. Myanmar participated in 19 events or 52.78 percent of the total events. The number of Myanmar athletes represented 5.5 percent of all the participants
Based on the ratio of the number of athletes and the number of medals, Myanmar’s percentage of success in the SEA Games from the 27th to 32nd is 28 percent in the 27th games, 17.8 percent in the 28th games, 9.68 percent in the 29th games, 7.66 percent in the 30th games,21.52 percent in the 31st games, and 33.43 percent in the 32nd games, which is the highest percentage record.
The success of sports is a pleasure for us all. As a national cause, efforts should be made for the football team to win goal as aspired by the entire citizens. Athletes and sports federations are urged to win largest number of gold in volleyball, track and field, weightlifting and boxing, the events in which Myanmar was powerful once.
Winning medals in international games amount to improving the country’s image through sports. Thanks to the athletes and coaches, the State Flag could be raised and the sound national anthem could be heard internationally. Hence, they deserve due honour.
The relevant ministry and sports federations should lay down advanced plans to take part in the 33rd SEA Games to be hosted by Thailand in 2025 with higher standard, to increase the number of athletes and competing events of Myanmar contingent, and to achieve greater success.
SEA Games is the most prestigious sports event in Southeast Asia. It records the ASEAN’s sports standard and measures the sports level of a country. Hence, sportsmen and sportswomen should strive more with unyielding spirit, perseverance, zeal, and strength to maintain their success in the international games including the coming SEA Games.
The Senior General urged all to secure greater number of gold, silver and bronze medals in the international competitions for uplifting the prestige of the State, giving training to all youths to take part in the competitions and penetrating the Southeast Asian level to the Asian and world levels with concerted efforts.
Union Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs U Min Thein Zan reported on participation of Myanmar sports contingent in the 32nd SEA Games.
The Senior General presented cash awards to gold medallists Maung Aik Soe Lin, Ma Khaing Wah Phu, Ma May Honey Aung Lwin, Maung Mana Kwee and Maung Tin Htoo Zaw, Maung Aung Khaing Lin, Maung Hein Htet Aung, Maung Kyaw Thu Soe Aung and Maung Yazar Tun in the Vovinam sport, Maung Paing Zeyar Phyo, Maung Arnt Bwe Nyein and Ma Nilar Soe Oo in the Vovinam (Khunbo Kata) event, Maung Sithu Maung, Maung Zaw Thet, Maung Ye Zaw Moe and Maung Myo Tun Arnt in the Vovinam (Arnit) event, the women’s team in the Same Stroke Event-1 of Chinlone event, the men’s and women’s teams in the Linking (Preliminary) Event-3, the men’s team in the Non Repetition Secondary Event-4, the women’s team in the Non Repetition Secondary Event-4, the men’s team in the Hoop Takraw event, U Pauk Sa, an athlete for Maung Maung (a) Phone Myint Kyaw and Maung Thaw Zin Htet in the billiard and snooker event, Ma Sandi Oo in Wushu event, the men’s five-oar 250-m U-24 traditional boat team, Maung Kyaw Min Naing in the Taekwondo event, Ma Zin May Oo in the weightlifting event and Ma Khin Cherry Thet in Pétanque event.
The Senior General presented US$-50,000 as special prize to the women’s football team which could sail to the final match of the 32nd SEA Games and US$-20,000 to the men’s football team which could advance to the semifinal match.
The Vice-Senior General presented cash awards to silver medallists Maung Tin Htoo Zaw, Ma Eindray Phu and Ma Hnin Thet Wai in the Vovinam event, Ma Nilar Soe Oo and Ma Theingi Win Kyaw in the Vovinam (Khunbo Kata) event, Ma Moe Moe Aye in the Vovinam (Arnit) event, men’s double and women double teams in the Sepak Takraw event.
SAC Joint Secretary Lt-Gen Ye Win Oo, SAC members General Mya Tun Oo, Lt-Gen Moe Myint Tun, Lt-Gen Soe Htut, Daw Dwe Bu, Poe Rei Aung Thein, Mahn Nyein Maung, Dr Hmu Thang, Dr Aung Kyaw Min, Dr Kyaw Tun, Khun San Lwin, U Shwe Kyein and U Yan Kyaw, Union Ministers U Win Shein, Dr Nyunt Pe and U Min Thein Zan, Chief of the General Staff (Army, Navy and Air) General Maung Maung Aye, Commander-in-Chief (Navy) Admiral Moe Aung, Commander-in-Chief (Air) General Tun Aung and senior military officers from the Office of the Commander-in-Chief presented cash awards to silver and bronze medallists, coaches and managers in Chinlone, Traditional Boat Race, Wushu, Khun Khama, Judo,football, badminton, Vovinam,billiard/snooker, Taekwondo,weightlifting, boxing, chess,track and field, cricket and E-sports respectively.
On behalf of the medallists, Ma Sandi Oo, who bagged one gold and two silver medals, spoke words of thanks.
The Senior General and party cordially greetd the victorious athletes and coaches.
The Myanmar sports contingent won 21 gold, 25 silver and 68 bronze medals in Vovinam, Vovinam (Khunbo Kata) Vovinam (Arnit), Sepak Takraw, Billiard and Snooker, Pitanque, Wushu, Taekwondo, Traditional Boat Race and weightlifting events among 19 competing events in the 32nd SEA Games held in Cambodia. Except volleyball and tennis events among 11 sports events, Myanmar athletes secured 25 silvers and 68 bronze medals. Silver medallists could reach the final matches with their brilliant efforts despite winning the gold medals. Myanmar women’s football team could sail to the final match whereas Myanmar men’s team could advance to the semifinal match. As the government recognized their efforts, officials often encouraged them. Now,deserved cash awards were presented to them. In this regard, the government presented Ks-30 million each to gold medalists, Ks-20 million each to silvermedallists, Ks-10 million each to bronze medallists, Ks-10 million each to member of team-wise gold medallists, Ks-7 million each to those from the silver medallists and Ks-3.5 million each to those from the bronze medallists, Ks-10 million each to coaches and managers for winning gold medal, Ks-5 million each to silver medal and Ks-3 million each to bronze medal. Hence, Ks-3.333 billion and US$-70,000 were awarded to the medallists.