Honouring Ceremony: PM honours winning athletes, coaches in 32nd SEA Games

A ceremony to honour Myanmar sports contingents who won medals at the 32nd SEA Games hosted by Cambodia was held at the Wunna Theikdhi stadium-B in Nay Pyi Taw on Thursday.

Chairman of the State Administration Council Prime Minister Senior General Min Aung Hlaing attended the event and said that in the 32nd SEA Games, Myanmar competed in 19 sports with 341 athletes, 104 coaches totaling 445 and won 21 gold, 25 silver and 68 bronze medals, totaling 114.

In the football competition, the national football teams (Men) and (Women) reached the semi-final and it was a pride for the entire people. The Prime Minister added that 6,210 athletes from 11 countries participated in the SEA Games and Myanmar participated in the event with 341 athletes.

In the 32nd SEA Games, the achievement of Myanmar was 33.43 percent and it could be record as the highest achievement rate in the competition from 27th SEA Games to the 32nd SEA Games.

The Prime Minister congratulates achieving success in the sports competitions and urged to strive for winning the gold medal in the football match which is the desire of all Myanmar people.

He also called on athletes and Federations to make efforts for winning gold medals in the volley ball, athletic, weightlifting and boxing events that were the same tradition.

The SEA Games is the most prestigious sports competition in the Southeast Asia and it also records the sports status of ASEAN countries.

He stressed the athletes to strive more efforts to gain success in the international sports competitions including the upcoming SEA Games, to promote prestige of the nation and to continue more efforts with the aims to penetrate into the Asian level from the Southeast Asian level.

Later, Union Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs U Min Thein Zan reported on participating in the 32nd SEA Games.

The Prime Minister then presented cash awards for winning athletes from Vovinam, cane ball, Sepak Takraw, Billiard/Snooker, Wushu, traditional boat race and Taekwondo events.

He also presented 50,000 USD to the Women football Team which reached the final match in the 32nd SEA Games and 20,000 USD for the Men football team who reached the semi-final event.

After that, Vice Chairman of the State Administration Council Deputy Prime Minister Vice Senior General Soe Win presented cash award for winning athletes from Voviman and Sepak Takraw events.

Afterwards, Joint Secretary Lt-Gen Ye Win Oo, the SAC members, Union Ministers and senior military officials presented cash awards for winning athletes, coaches and supervisors from respective sports events.

On behalf of winning athletes, a Wushu player who won one gold and 2 silver medals spoke words of thanks. Later, the Prime Minister and party cordially greeted winning athletes and coaches.

In the ceremony, over 3.3 billion kyats and 70,000 USD were presented as the cash awards for winning athletes, coaches and supervisors from respective sports events.