Nay Pyi Taw February 7
A ceremony to present cash rewards offered by the government to athletes who brought honour for the country in the 8th Vovinam World Championship in Indonesia, in 2025, the 16th World Bodybuilding and Physique Sport Championship, the 33rd SEA Games in Thailand, the 13th ASEAN Para Games in Thailand in January, 2026 was held at Wunna Theikdi Sport Stadium (A) this morning and Acting President of the Republicof the Union of Myanmar, Chairman of the State Security and Peace Commission, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing delivered an address and presented cash rewards to the athletes.
Also present at the ceremony were Member of the commission Prime Minister U Nyo Saw, Commission Secretary General Ye Win Oo, members of the commission, union ministers and union-level officials, senior military officers from the Office of the Commander-in-Chief, the commander of Nay Pyi Taw Command, deputy ministers, chairmen and vice chairmen of Myanmar sport federation, guests, athletes who brought honour to the country, their managers, coaches and officials.
First, the Senior General delivered an opening speech, saying the ceremony today was an auspicious one because it was held to honour those who should be honoured in accordance with the sermon of auspiciousness.
Among the 24 countries that participated in the 8th Vovinam World Championship held from 1 to 8 November in 2025 in Barli, Indonesia, Myanmar sent eight athletes including two coaches, three male athletes and three female athletes, to take part in 16 events, and won 14 medals including two gold medals, five silver medals and seven bronze medals. Therefore, it can be proudly seen that all six athletes who represented Myanmar could win gold, silver and bronze medals in the international sport events.
Similarly, among 34 countries that participated in the 16th World Bodybuilding and Physique Sport Championship held by the World Bodybuilding and Physique Sport Federation from 11 to 17 November, 2025, in Bintan Island in Indonesia, Myanmar sent seven athletes including three coaches, two male athletes and two female athletes and won five medals including one gold medal, two silver medal and two bronze medals.
In the 33rd SEA Games in Thailand, the 13th ASEAN Para Games held in Thailand in December, 2025, Myanmar sent 789 people including 698 coaches and athletes and 91 members of main administrative bodies for 38 sports, the teams won 72 medals including three gold medals and ranked seven.
In the 32nd SEA Games in 2023, Myanmar sent 445 ath-letes including 341 athletes and 104 manager/coach and won 114 medals including 21 gold medals and rank eight.
Therefore, I would like to say that I am glad to see the country’s rank rose to seven. However, the number of medals dropped and I urged athletes to try harder to achieve further success in upcoming competitions.
Among 38 types of sports competition participated by Myanmar, the country won three gold medals, four silver medals and seven bronze medals in two types of sports such as Chinlon and billiards and snooker. In 16 of the remaining 36 sports, Myanmar won 17 silver medals and 41 bronze medals. Although silver medal winners were able to make it to the finals but failed to win gold medals. As they tried their best for the country, it was encuraging. In some sports, it was found that could play as well as their rivals but failed to win gold medals. Therefore, if they can find out their weaknesses and try harder, further success will be achieved.
In the 13th ASEAN Para Games held in Thailand in January, 2026, Myanmar sent 145 athletes including 97 athletes, 47 coaches and one referee and it was found that the country won 59 medals including 20 gold medals, 19 silver medals and 20 bronze medals, achieving success and ranking six among 11 countries.
He noted that Myanmar won a total of 57 medals, including 15 gold, and ranked 6th among nations at the 12th ASEAN Para Games held in Cambodia in 2023. He noted that at this 13th ASEAN Para Games, five more gold medals and two more medals in total were won compared to the previous time. He stated that to honor such competitive efforts and successes, the State provided immediate rewards during the competition: US$-300 for a gold medal, US$-200 for a silver medal, and US$-100 for a bronze medal.
He stated that according to the records of the competition, although the Myanmar paraathletes have physical disabilities, they are capable individuals who have successfully elevated the prestige of the nation. He noted that in the management of the Myanmar Para Sports Federation alone, which entered 11 sporting events, expected medals were won in every competition and a 6th place national ranking was achieved. He added that this clearly demonstrates that the role of federations is increasingly vital for the development of sports.
He stated that among the 11 sporting events contested in the Para Games, 20 gold medals were won in athletics, swimming, and volleyball; 19 silver medals were won in athletics, swimming, and football; and 20 bronze medals were won in athletics, swimming, chess, table tennis, powerlifting, and goalball. He noted that the gold, silver, and bronze medals achieved by the Para Sports Federation were in Olympic sports such as athletics, swimming, and volleyball. Therefore, he urged all stakeholders to prioritize and strive for the resurgence of Olympic sports like swimming and athletics for the country to advance to the next level.
He noted that winning medals for the country in international sporting events not only serves to elevate the prestige of the nation through sports but also honors those who have strived to raise the flag of the motherland and let the national anthem resound in the international arena. He added that this is why the nation’s outstanding athletes, along with their managers and coaches, are being worthily honored and rewarded.
Therefore, he urged that preparations and training be con-ducted in advance to ensure Myanmar can compete effectively and win medals at the upcoming 34th Southeast Asian Games and the 14th ASEAN Para Games to be held in Malaysia in 2027. In making these preparations, he stressed the need to develop systematic plans by distinguishing between sports that can yield immediate gold medals and those that require long-term development. He added that progress should be reviewed and adjusted every two or three months. Furthermore, he noted that ministries and respective sports federations must clearly identify their speci-fic responsibilities and promptly report any areas where state assistance is required.
Additionally, he urged continuous efforts to ensure the steady emergence of new generations of young athletes through domestic sports competitions. He stressed the importance of providing coaches, referees, and juries with updated train-ing to stay current with modern standards. He also encouraged Myanmar’s sports federations to strive for active participation and integration within international sports organizations, including the Southeast Asian Games Federation, in their respective sectors.
In keeping with today’s age of science and AI, he emphasized the need to strive for the emergence of sports researchers, including professionals such as Sport Scientists, Sport Nutritionists, and Sport Psychologists. He urged sports federa-tions to continue facilitating opportunities for domestic coaches to attend sports training in par-tner countries and to arrange the exchange of athletes for bilateral friendship competitions.
He urged everyone to continue striving with the goal of winning more medals in future world-level, Asian-level, and Southeast Asian-level competitions, as well as ASEAN regional games and international invitational tournaments, to elevate the nation’s prestige through sports. He encouraged every young person to take an interest in and pursue sports, training until they can reach a competitive level, with the ambition of breaking through from the Southeast Asian level to the Asian and world levels.
Then, a ceremony was held to honor the athletes who have brought honor to the country in the 8th Vovinam World Championship, 16th World Bodybuilding and Fitness Games, 33rd Southeast Asian Games and 13th ASEAN Paralympics Games and the Acting President and Chairman of the State Security and Peace Commission congratulated and awarded reward money to Ma May Hanni Aung Lwin and Ma Hnin Thet Wai, who won two gold medals in the 8th Vovinam World Championship; Maung Ye Htun Naung, who won one gold medal in Men’s Bodybuilding 75 kg in the 16th World Bodybuilding and Fitness Games; Men’s Team, who won one gold medal in the Men’s Team Event-3 competition and the Women’s Team, who won one gold medal in the Women’s Team Event-3 competition, the Billiards National Team, who won one gold medal in the men’s team event in the Billiards and Snooker sports at the 33rd South-east Asian Games; Maung Nyi Nyi Lin Htet, who won four gold medals in all 4 events of the 200m freestyle, 50m breaststroke, 50m freestyle, and 100m freestyle swimming events; Maung Nanda Soe Min, who won one gold medal in the 100m breaststroke and one silver medal in the 50m breaststroke swimming events;
Lance Corporal Soe Win, who won one gold medal and one silver medal in the freestyle swimming events; Maung Min Htoo won one gold medal and one silver medal in the breaststroke swimming events; Maung Aung Myint Myat won one gold medal in the 100m backstroke two bronze medals in the 200m free-style swimming events;Warrant Officer Class 2 Tin Nyo, who won two gold medals in the shot put and javelin in athletics; Maung Aung Myint Htay, who won one gold medal in the 400-meter race, one silver medal in the 200-meter race, and one bronze medal in the 100-meter race; Sergeant Soe Pe, who won one gold medal and one silver medal in the 200-meter race; Ma Htet Htet Aye, who won two gold medals in Women discus throw and shot put competitions; Corporal Ye Min Soe, who won one gold medal in the discus throw competition and one silver medal in the shot put competition; Lance Corporal (Retd) Soe Than, who won one gold medal in the javelin competition; Ma Nan San Yadana Htun, who won one gold medal in the long jump and one bronze medal in the 100-meter race competitions; Ma Sein Phop, who won one gold medal in the shot put and one bronze medal in the javelin competitions; Maung Sithu Htet, who won one gold medal in the javelin and one silver medal in the shot put competitions, and Myanmar sports team, who won a gold medal in the sitting volleyball competition.
Then, the Commission member, Prime Minister U Nyo Saw, congratulated and awarded reward money to the Myanmar sports team, who won five silver medals in the 8th Vovinam World Championship; Ma Zu Zu Thant, who won one silver medal and one bronze medal and Maung Chan Myae Htun, who won one silver medal, in the 16th World Bodybuilding and Fitness Games; U Pauk Sa, who won one silver medal in the billiards and snooker sports at the 33rd Southeast Asian Games;Myanmar sports team, who won two team silver me-dals, Maung Myo Hlaing Win, who won one silver medal and Ma Po Po Aung, who won one bronze medal in canoe and kayak sports;Myanmar sports team, who won two team silver medals and four-man team that won one silver medal in the Sepak takrawsports; Maung Wai Yan Moe, who won one silver medal and Ma Nilar Win, who won one bronze medal in international rowing.
Next, the Secretary of the Commission General Ye Win Oo, members of the Commission, Union Ministers, and senior military officers from the Office of the Commander-in-Chief presented the national medal-winning athletes, management team, and coaches with reward money.
Then, on behalf of the national medal-winning athletes, Maung Ye Htun Naung, who won one gold medal in the 16th World Bodybuilding and Physical Fitness Games, delivered a speech of thanks.
Then, the Senior General and members warmly greeted the medal-winning athletes and coaches.
The State has awarded cash- prizes to athletes, coaches, and sports governing bodies in recognition of outstanding per-formances in various competitions. Individual athletes who won gold medals received Ks-30 million, silver medalists Ks-20 million, and bronze medalists Ks-10 million. In team events, each gold medalist received Ks-10 million, silver medalists Ks-7 million, and bronze meda-lists Ks-3.5 million. Coaches who guided athletes to gold medals were awarded Ks-10 million, those responsible for silver medals received Ks-5 million, and those for bronze medals received Ks-3 million.
In addition, the governing bodies of each sport were granted Ks-10 million for each gold medal, Ks-5 million for each silver medal, and Ks-3 million for each bronze medal. Myanmar sports teams secured a total of 150 medals—26 gold, 47 silver, and 77 bronze – at the 8th Vovinam World Championship, the 16th World Bodybuilding and Fitness Games, the 33rd Southeast Asian Games, and the 13th ASEAN Para Games.
In total, the State awarded Ks-3.669 billion to 28 national athletes, along with their management and coaching teams, in recognition of their achievements.
