Myanmar stands 6th position in 11th ASEAN Para Games

Victory in sports uplifts the prestige of the State and its nationals in the international community and sports competitions are dubbed as fighting without arms, said Chairman of the State Administration Council Prime Minister Senior General Min Aung Hlaing at the ceremony to honour the winning Myanmar sports contingent in the 11th ASEAN Para Games hosted by Indonesia, at Wunna Theikdi Gymnasium (B) in Nay Pyi Taw yesterday afternoon.
In his address, the Senior General said that sports do not stop at the stage for health purposes as well as for sports as its integrity and situation are higher due to changing situations. Now, sport is a national duty for the athletes to uplift the honour of the State and the nationals.
The Senior General noted that the WHO stated percentage of persons with disabilities rose to 15 per cent of the global people today. Hence, it is necessary to allow rights to the persons with disabilities as some 1,000 million population with disabilities become a number which attention should be paid.
Based on data from the 2014 census, there were some 2.3 million persons with disabilities accounting for 4.6 per cent in Myanmar. The government, international organizations, non-governmental organizations, charity organizations and wellwishers help persons with disabilities rehabilitate themselves and uplift their prestige and enjoy equal terms of rights with ordinary people.
Myanmar paralympic teams have secured 77 medals including 43 gold in the first ASEAN Para Games held in Malaysia in 2001 standing in the third position, 24 golds in the second games, 29 golds in the third games, 14 golds in the fourth games, 14 golds in the fifth games, 11 golds in the sixth games, 34 golds in the seventh games, 16 golds in the eighth games and 11 golds in the ninth games. The tenth games was not held in the Philippines in 2019. In the 11th games in 2022, 113 athletes of the Myanmar paralympic team secured 14 golds, 12 silvers and 17 bronzes, totalling 43 medals, standing in the 6th position among 11 countries.
As an acknowledging the vigorous efforts of the sports, K200,000 and US$200 each were provided to all athletes and US$100 each to coaches and managers before departure for the competition.
In the competition, gold medalist was awarded US$1,000, silver medalist US$700 and bronze US$500, US$500 each for athletes from teamwise events and US$300 each for those from the bronze medal winning team.
Moreover, K1,006 million as cash awards will be presented to the winners and coaches and managers. The Senior General urged them to show off brilliant skills in the 12th ASEAN Para Games to be held in Cambodia from 3 to 9 June 2023.
Union Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs U Min Thein Zan recounted the participation of Myanmar athletes in the 11th ASEAN Para Games.
Then, the Senior General presented cash awards to medallists in the 100-m and 200-m races, 400-m teamwise relay event, shotput and discus events, 100-m breaststroke event and 50-m freestyle swimming events, backstroke event, butterfly event and javelin event respectively.
The Vice-Senior General also presented cash awards to the winners in the respective sports events. Council members also gave cash awards to winning athletes, managers and coaches.
Two-gold and one-silver medallist Lance Corporal Soe Pay spoke words of thanks.
Later, the Senior General and party cordially greeted the victorious athletes and coaches. — MNA