The Myanmar Tatmadaw delegation led by Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Senior General Min Aung Hlaing attended the closing ceremony of International Army Games-2019 at the Mound of Glory in Moscow on August 17.
He met with Russian Defence Minister Army General Sergei Shoigu to discuss about military affairs, according to an announcement from the Office of the Commander-in-Chief of the Defence Services on August 18.
The Senior General met and gave words of encouragement to members of the tank troop contest from Myanmar Tatmadaw which participated in the International Army Games-2019 and presented cash awards to them. Afterwards, the Senior General and party together with other attendees viewed competition of tank troop members from Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan in the final event of tank driving and shooting in the Tank Biathlon contest. In the contest, Russian tank troop member stood first with the record of 1 hour, 33 minutes and 20 seconds, followed by tank troop members from Belarus, Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan respectively, said the announcement.
The Senior General held a meeting with Russian Defence Minister at the hall of Patriot Part separately and cordially discussed about participation in the International Army Games-2019, further participations in coming years, holding of the games which reflect peaceful co-existence situations of global countries by giving chances of showing defence capability without causing wars and conflicts, assistance for uplifting defence capability of Myanmar, and issues to further strengthen existing friendly relations between the two countries and two armed forces.
A total of 39 countries participated in the Army Games-2019 which comprised 32 field capacity events. The games are held at ten countries including Russia. Myanmar Tatmadaw took part in the games for the second time with participation in the tank skill event, sniper shooting skill event and the field medical skill event. Moreover, the cultural troupe from Myanmar Tatmadaw competed in the Creative Competition related to the games, it said.
Myanmar’s tank troop included in the group-2 could sail into the semifinal. Myanmar competing with Tajikistan, Vietnam and Uganda set the record with 2 hours, 21 minutes and 01 second in the first position in the relay race of the semifinal. However, Uganda’s tank drove into the route of Myanmar’s during the competition and they collided. According to the disciplines of the games, Myanmar team missed the chance to reach the final, standing the 13th position in the order of countries, the medical team in the 5th position among 13 teams from 12 countries and the sniper team in the 15th position among 23 teams of 21 countries. Myanmar Tatmadaw’s cultural troupe performed songs and dances to the accompaniment of Myanmar traditional musical instruments, securing the best singing award, the best dancing award and the best music playing award among nine countries, it said.
