Nay Pyi Taw March 19
A ceremony to present gifts of honour to athletes of the Tatmadaw who won medals at the 28th ASEAN Armies Rifle Meet (AARM), the International Invitational Boxing Tournament, and the 19th ASEAN University Games, and brought honour to the nation and the coaches who trained the athletes to win gold was held at the parlour of Bayintnaung Villa here this morning. Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Senior General Min Aung Hlaing attended the ceremony and presented the gifts.
Also present on the occasion were Daw Kyu Kyu Hla, wife of the Senior General, Deputy Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Commander-in-Chief (Army) Vice-Senior General Soe Win and wife Daw Than Than Nwe, Union Minister for Defence Lt-Gen Sein Win, Chief of the General Staff (Army, Navy and Air) General Mya Tun Oo, Commander-in-Chief (Navy) Admiral Tin Aung San, Commander-in-Chief (Air) General Maung Maung Kyaw, senior military officers from the Office of the Commander-in-Chief, the commander of Nay Pyi Taw Command, medalist athletes and coaches.
Senior General Min Aung Hlaing delivered an address at the ceremony. He said nowadays, sports is supporting the national interest as a sector. The country and its race will enjoy global admiration and their image will further improve by having outstanding athletes. Global countries are vying for raising the sports standard. They are producing outstanding athletes from domestic sports meet to take part in regional and global competitions. They regard the sports as a national task, trying to raise the reputation of the race through unyielding spirit. They are assessing the capability of their race and country, with sports meets as the criterion. The assessments show the attitude of an individual country through fi tness, perseverance, solidarity and discipline of the sportspersons.
Although sports competitions are held in the designated venue, its impact goes beyond it. Sports meets bring benefits such as friendship, unity and fairness. Technique as well as training is important both for team sports and individual sports. Reasonable degree of sports aids and encourage are also required. Victory can be ensured only if all the aforementioned requirements can be fulfilled. The work of ensuring sports victory is similar to the work of building a nation. The spirit, discipline, training and fairness every sportsperson should have are also the essential requirements in building an organization or a nation. The milestones of the country’s sports went alongside the achievements of the Tatmadaw athletes. The Tatmadaw athletes have achieved success for many times. Many Tatmadaw football stars were included in the Myanmar footfall team during its golden age. Tatmadaw athletes have also won medals in other sports events including track and field, boxing, weightlifting and judo apart from football.
The Tatmadaw is holding (Army, Navy and Air) sports meets annually in bringing out new generation athletes for the country and the Tatmadaw. As Tatmadaw members are the persons serving the national defence duty, they must be skilled in shooting. So rifle meets are being held every year. Shooting contests promote mental control, decision-making and confidence. Boxing is much benefi cial to the battle duty as it encourages physical fitness and courage. Sports promotion enhances internal unity, in addition to producing good fighters who love their life as a soldier. Health and fitness is of vital importance to serve the national defence duties brilliantly in accord with the motto – healthy and fit soldiers serve as the country’s pivot – and their services are for the country. Tatmadaw members are discharging multiple defence duties for the perpetuation of independence and sovereignty of the State, and for safeguarding of public life and property and national interest. Health and fi tness are specially needed to serve the said duty.
The Senior General said Tatmadaw athletes must apply their sports experiences for social development. Discipline reflects human value, and also serves as a springboard for development. So the observance of discipline is much important for a sportsperson. As discipline is their backbone, in sports, Tatmadaw members should follow the instructions of their coaches in all seriousness in accord with the motto “Military discipline is the soul of the Tatmadaw”. They must aware of the fact that there were athletes who gradually faded away as they failed to observe the discipline.
They must participate in the team sports with unity and fairness. Every team member must be aware of the fact that individual lack of discipline can harm the image of the whole team. So Tatmadaw sportspersons, who are winning medals, should pay serious attention to discipline for their long-term success.
In the 28th ASEAN Armies Rifle Meet, Myanmar Tatmadaw members secured two golds, one silver and one bronze promoting the State to the fourth level in 10 participating countries. In international invitational boxing also, the country obtained one gold and two bronzes reaching the third level in six contesting countries. Myanmar hosted the 19th ASEAN University Games in December 2018. Nine members were among 342 Myanmar contestants who secured three golds, three silvers and two bronze.
The Tatmadaw’s victory is the victory of the State so the Tatmadaw members were awarded today for their achievements. The victorious athletes and coaches attending today’s ceremony are urged to motivate other soldiers and their families to try to become good athletes when they arrive back at their units and battalions. Only then, will good athletes of new Tatmadaw generation emerge brining honour to the country.
In sports, success cannot be achieved overnight and it depends on health and fitness, systematic technique and preparations. So it is necessary to take time to achieve success. A balanced, nutritious diet and good stamina are also required. In coming sports events, they also need to compete with an unyielding spirit and a strenuous effort. The Tatmadaw also praises its members who achieved victory in international sports and games. They are so urged to make continued efforts as a national duty because sport promotion means protecting the State.
Next, the Senior General presented certificates of honour and cash awards to corporal Myint Naing Oo, who won gold in match 4 (individual) of the 28th ASEAN Armies Rifl e Meet; lance corporal Ye Lin Tun, who won gold in international invitational boxing (75-kilo); nurse aid Thazin Aye who won one gold in karate (individuals’ Khata) of the 19th ASEAN University Games one gold in karate (teams’ Khata), one gold in Kumite (under 50-kilo) and one bronze in team-wise Kumite.
Daw Kyu Kyu Hla presented certificates of honour and cash awards to lieutenant Daw Zin Nyein Aye who won gold in women’s team-wise pistol match (4) of the 28th ASEAN Armies Rifle Meet; and warrant officer 1 (substitute appointment) Cho Mar Hlaing, sergeant/clerk May Thaw Zin Phone, production expert-4 Daw Aye Aye Nyein and production expert-5 Daw Khin Soe Htay who won gold in team-wise pistol match (4) of the 28th ASEAN Armies Rifle Meet.
Vice-Senior General Soe Win presented certificates of honour and cash awards to captain Han Min Htet, sergeant Zaw Ja, sergeant Aung Ko Lin, lance corporal Zin Min Aung who won silver and bronze medals in men’s team-wise pistol match (4) and (5) of the 28th ASEAN Armies Rifle Meet and captain Ye Tun Ko who won bronze medal in match (5). Daw Than Than Nwe presented certificates of honour to staff member Daw Yin Nyein Aye who won silver in 500-meter race and 10000-meter race of the 19th ASEAN University Games and staff member Daw Thi Thi Mon, who won bronze in 400-meter race of the 19th ASEAN University Games .
Chief of the General Staff (Army, Navy and Air) presented certificates of honour and cash awards to sergeant Zin Lin Tun and sergeant Zaw Zaw who won bronze in pair skilled demonstration of Vovenum in the 19th ASEAN University Games and lance corporal Pyae Sone who won bronze in the international invitational boxing (56-kilo) and lance corporal Kyaw Min Oo who won bronze in 64 kilo event.
Then, the Commander-in-Chief (Navy) presented certificates of honour and cash awards to captain Daw Khin Nanda Tun and company quarter master sergeant Ngai Ki who helped win medals in women’s teamwise pistol match (4) of the 28th ASEAN Armies Rifle Meet. The Commander-in-Chief (Air) presented certificates of honour and cash awards to captain Kyaw Myo Thant, who helped win medals in who helped win medals in match 4 (individual) of the 28th ASEAN Armies Rifle Meet and manager/ coach captain Soe Maung Maung on behalf of Myanmar Karate Federation vice president U Soe Win, who helped win medal in karate (individuals’ Khata) and Kumite (under 50-kilo) of the 19th ASEAN University Games.
An athlete spoke words of thanks on behalf of the victorious athletes and coaches. The Myawady Band under the Directorate of Public Relations and Psychological Warfare entertained those present with music and songs, and foods were served. After the ceremony, the Senior General cordially greeted the victorious athletes and coaches.
