SAC Vice Chairman Deputy Prime Minister Vice-Senior General Soe Win addresses ceremony to honour medalists of 20th ASEAN University Games
NAY PYI TAW September 8
Medalists of the teams of Myanmar university contingent to the 20th ASEAN University Games were honoured at the Ministry of Education here at 9 am today, addressed by Vice Chairman of State Administration Council Deputy Prime Minister Vice-Senior General Soe Win.
Also present were SAC members General Mya Tun Oo and Daw Aye Nu Sein, Union ministers U Tin Htut Oo, Dr Nyunt Pe, U Min Thein Zan and Dr Thet Thet Khaing, the Union Civil Service Board chairman, the Nay Pyi Taw Council chairman, deputy ministers Dr Zaw Myint, U Zaw Win and U Myo Hlaing, athletes and coaches of the university contingent and officials.
The Vice-Senior General said medalists of the 20th ASEAN University Games held in Ubon Ratchathani, Thailand, from 26 July to 6 August will be honoured here. Sports illustrate the fitness, degree of perseverance and unity of the country and race. Sports are a fair competition.
Sports can capture the hearts of people, and further enhance nationalistic fervor through the promotion of the country and race’s image and integrity. Every competition reflects the unyielding spirit and long-lasting love for the country and race. Hence, the global countries are trying to improve the level of the sports.
Sports sector is of vital importance for all-round progress.
Medalists here are honoured for their skill and wisdom.
All athletes are admirable as they took part in and won the competitions with sporting spirit which include mutual respect, love and unity, helpfulness and kindness and fairness.
The athletes won medals as they all took part in the games as a national task to improve the nation’s image through sports victories.
The country in striving to stand shoulder to shoulder with its international counterparts is adopting systematic plans for the national sports standard to meet the international level.
Myanmar athletes are participating in internal, regional and international sports and trying their best to show their capability. Development in every sports event needs time.
Hence, physical, intellectual and mental strength should be promoted. Development in sports will lead to education development which will bring about brilliant, disciplined and fit persons.
The Education Ministry is upgrading sports facilities to promote education plus sports learning activities at schools.
Regions and states are conducting courses for sports teachers in cooperation with Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs, and Dagon and Yadanabon universities are also conducting B.Sc (Sports) courses. More coaches and sports teachers are appointed at schools for the emergence of new generation skilled both in sports and education. Nutrition programs being launched at schools with the involvement of Health Ministry must be promoted to bring about a qualified new generation with good spirit.
In university-level sports and games, Myanmar started participation in the 15th ASEAN University Games held in Thailand in 2010. The event included volleyball, football, sepak takraw, swimming, table tennis, tennis, golf and track and field,
and 47 university students took part in the event obtaining a bronze medal each in football sepak takraw and tennis.
Again, 62 student athletes participated in the 16th event held in Laos in 2012 obtaining one gold and two bonzes in the sepak takraw contest.
In the 17th event held in Indonesia, Myanmar represented 80 university students receiving three silver medals and five bronze medals in Wushu and karataedo, two bronze medals in sepak takraw and three bronze medals in track and field.
A total of 37 participants were sent to the 18th event held in Singapore in 2016 obtaining one silver medal in sepak takraw.
Myanmar hosted the 19th event in 2018 with 17 kinds of sports and games in which 353 students took part and bagged 24 gold medals, 26 silver medals and 29 bronze medals. Myanmar was ranked fourth in the ASEAN countries.
The 20th event held in Thailand included 23 kinds of sports and games. But with the COVID-19 pandemic, Myanmar could participate only four contests—football, sepak takraw, Wushu and archery. There were only 23 student participants. Thanks to their skills and techniques, high performance and standards, two gold medals, two silver medals and two bronze medals were bagged.
Each athlete was awarded Ks-200,000 and US$-200, each coach Ks-100,000 and US$-100 by the Prime Minister.
At this ceremony also, individual gold medalists will be awarded Ks-7.5 million, silver medalists Ks-5 million and bronze medalists Ks-2.5 million.
Each member of the football team that won a bronze medal will be awarded Ks-1 million.
Coaches and managers will be awarded Ks-2 million each for gold medals, Ks-1.5 million each for silver medals and Ks-1 million each for bronze medals.
A total of Ks-55.5 million will be awarded.
All the university sport athletes respected the sport rules and disciplines, followed the guidelines of their coaches and participated in the event with full sporting spirit. As a result, they won gold, silver and bronze and they will be recorded.
They need to continue making efforts and preparations to achieve greater success in coming events, said the Vice-Senior General.
Next, Union Minister for Education Dr Nyunt Pe reported on situations of the 20th University Games.
Then, the Vice-Senior General presented cash awards to two gold medalists in Wushu, General Mya Tun Oo to two silver medalists in Wushu, Daw Aye Nu Sein to one bronze medalists in Wushu and the bronzewinning university football team, Union Minister Dr Nyunt Pe to the coach and manager of the Wushu team and Union Minister U Min Thein Zan to the manager and coaches of the football team.
Later, on behalf of the medalists, Ma Aye Thitsa Myint, who won a gold medal in Wushu, spokes words of thanks and the ceremony ended.