Disabled athletes form a particularly marginal group among sports enthusiasts in the country. But they work hard and some of them have been remarkably successful in international sports competitions, especially the ASEAN Para Games. This photo story tells of their lives in training. The photos were taken by a photojournalist, Pho Thar. The images were taken at various times between 2017 and 2019 at the training facility of the Myanmar Paralympic Sports Federation in North Dagon Township, Yangon, which houses about 150 athletes.
Athlete Sithu Htet, 22
Sithu Htet: “I had many girlfriends because they like athletic types like me. But they all eventually left me. My dream is to open a phone service shop.”
Athletes train and have fun together.
Sithu Htet: “I come from a village in the Delta area. When I was a child, my friends called me ‘monkey’. I was angry and told them I would come back when I was successful.”
“I was able to come back [to the training facility] because my parents can pay USD 10 a month. They do random jobs at Thanlyin Township.” (Sithu Htet, 22, competing in the “Track and Field” category that includes running, jumping, and throwing.)
“The Malaysia games were the first competition I entered. I wore a glove which I had bought for 50 cents. I was ashamed when fellow athletes looked at me. Now, after learning from YouTube, I can make my own gloves.”
Inkyin Khin, 20, has won a silver and two bronze medals in the “Track and Field” category that includes running, jumping, and throwing. She was born without her right leg. She is now preparing for her high school final exams. Only about 10% of the athlete
The basketball team performing a group ritual before training. “Nobody welcomed us when we came back with medals from international Para Games, but [in the future] we are still expecting even more medals than in the previous games.” After the 2017 success
The Myanmar Paralympic Sports Federation provides a place to train and all the equipment, but the athletes must pay USD 10 per month for food.
The Myanmar Paralympic Sports Federation provides a place to train and all the equipment, but the athletes must pay USD 10 per month for food.
Kyaw Kyaw Win, 31, was a soldier in the Tatmadaw. He lost his right leg when he stepped on a landmine in Kayah State twelve years ago. At three ASEAN Para Games he won three gold, one silver and three bronze medals in Boccia as well as Track and Field eve