THE Myanmar Weightlifting Federation (MWF) is expecting an improved turnout at this month’s 11th Chairman of Myanmar Olympic Committee’s Weight Lifting Cup, the country’s most prestigious weightlifting event.
The competition, which will take place at Yangon’s Aung San Indoor Stadium from June 27-30, attracted about 150 competitors last year and MWF secretary U Myint Swe said he expected at least that number to enter the field before the June 20 deadline.
The competition will feature four categories, including one for lifters who have never previously entered an MWF event.
U Myint Swe said the federation was hoping to identify talented young athletes that could compete for the national team in coming years, as well as check the progress of national lifters ahead of this year’s SEA Games, which will be held in Laos in December.
“We will learn a lot about the youth athletes, what their strengths and weaknesses are, and choose the most talented to train with the national team and then send them to upcoming international youth weightlifting competitions,” U Myint Swe said.
Last month, the MWF sent three female athletes to the 1st Youth World Weightlifting Championships, which were held in Thailand. In the 44-kilogram event, Kay Khine finished eighth, while Ma Aye Shwe came 19th in the 53kg category and Moe Thu Zar 22nd in the 63kg.
The weightlifting cup will also feature many established national team members, including female lifters Yar Thet Pan (69kg) and Thaw Yay Phaw (58kg). Newer members of the women’s national team, including Aye Thandar Lwin (53kg), Lay Lay Nwe (58kg), Swe Lae Mon (63kg) and Haymar Myint Win (58kg) will have the opportuntity to impress selectors before the SEA Games, as will Hla Moe (50kg), Pyae Phyo (50kg) and Pyae Phyo Swe (77kg) on the men’s side.
“We identified June as the end of the ‘fitness period’ of training and the time when the national athletes would start to focus on lifting heavier weights ahead of the SEA Games,” U Myint Swe said. “So, you should be able to see the improvement in the national lifters at this competition.”
