Athletes must foster unity and mutual trust

As achievements in the sports sector successfully uplift the physical and mental capabilities of citizens, it is a root cause to develop human resources of the State directly, said Chairman of the State Administration Council Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Senior General Min Aung Hlaing in his opening speech at the ceremony to kick off the 2024 Tatmadaw (Army, Navy and Air) Sports Competitions at Zeyathiri Tatmadaw Sports Ground in Nay Pyi Taw yesterday afternoon.

Speaking on the occasion, the Senior General said that Tatmadaw has formed the Tatmadaw Sports and Physical Education Administration Board and the Tatmadaw Sports Committee to turn out highly qualified Tatmadaw athletes to bring honour to the State. The annual sports calendar has been schemed to hold sports and games in relevant military commands so as to turn out new generation athletes for the Tatmadaw (Army, Navy and Air) Sports competitions, he added.

He continued that sports competitions held by Tatmadaw aim to select nationally selected athletes from the players chosen from Tatmadaw (Army, Navy and Air) teams and turn out new generation athletes continuously.

The Senior General noted that sports must be done with physical strength and mental capability. Taking sports exercises can help strengthen the body organs of individuals and improve mental capacity. Hence, Tatmadaw holds the Tatmadaw (Army, Navy and Air) sports competitions yearly except during the period of breakout of COVID-19. This year’s competition comprises ten sports events for teamwork in addition to individual events, he added.

He highlighted that achievements in the sports sector successfully uplift the physical and mental capabilities of citizens, and it is a root cause of the direct development of human resources of the State. Tatmadaw athletes could compete in international and regional sports competitions with high qualifications and secured medals for bringing honour to the State, he noted.

The Senior General underscored that it is necessary to forge strength, perseverance, industry, and diligence in serving the defence duty of the State. Athletes have to forge unity and bilateral trust among themselves through the spirit of teamwork. All different levels of Tatmadaw members have to dutifully serve assigned duties with full strength and capacity due to the demands of the State, he said.

Chairman of the Tatmadaw Sports and Physical Education Administration Board and Adjutant-General Lt-Gen Soe Min Oo and Commander Maj-Gen Soe Min of Nay Pyi Taw Command released the balloons bearing the opening banner.

The Senior General took the salute of the flag bearer and athletes led by the parade commander.

The Senior General and party watched the match between the Nay Pyi Taw Command team and the Office of the Commander-in-Chief (Army) team in the second-round stage of the Defence Services Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy Football Tournament. At the match, both teams put pressure on each other, but the Office of the Commander-in-Chief (Army) could create linkages among its players to control the football. After the final whistle, the Office of the Commander-in-Chief (Army) team threshed Nay Pyi Taw Command team 4-1.

Also, present at the ceremony were Daw Kyu Kyu Hla, wife of the Senior General, Vice-Chairman of SAC Deputy Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Commander-in-Chief (Army) Vice-Senior General Soe Win and his wife Daw Than Than Nwe, Council member Chief of the General Staff (Army, Navy and Air) General Maung Maung Aye and his wife, Union-level dignitaries, Union ministers and their wives, senior Tatmadaw officers from the Office of the Commander-in-Chief and their wives, the commander of Nay Pyi Taw Command, officers, other ranks and families of the offices and departments under the Office of Commander-in-Chief (Army, Navy and Air), senior officer trainees of Nationa Defence College, officers, other ranks and families from regiments and units under Nay Pyi Taw Command, trainees from Tatmadaw Football Academy, invitees and athletes.

The sports competition consists of football, Karatedo, men’s and women’s track & field, men’s and women’s Myanmar martial arts, boxing, men’s and women’s volleyball, men’s and women’s Judo, golf, Sepak Takraw and Taekwondo events which will last till 11 October.

MNA/TTA

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