THE group stage fixtures of the Fifth National Sports Festival kicked off at the designated stadiums in Nay Pyi Taw Council Area yesterday.
Team contests for Sepak Takraw, basketball, futsal, volleyball, and football unfolded with remarkable performances.
In Inter-State and Region men’s Sepak Takraw doubles, Bago defeated Mandalay 2-0, while Magway won 2-1 against Ayeyawady. Kayin, Yangon, and Shan claimed straight wins against Chin, Shan, and Mon, respectively. The Nay Pyi Taw team outplayed Rakhine 2-0, and Kachin edged out Kayah 2-1. Bago and Mandalay secured victories in further rounds. Kayin dominated Yangon 2-0, and Shan triumphed over Chin 2-0. Other matches saw Nay Pyi Taw outplay Mon and Taninthayi secure a 2-0 victory against Rakhine.
In Inter-State and Region women’s Sepak Takraw doubles, Kayin defeated Nay Pyi Taw 2-0, while Magway and Yangon secured victories against Mandalay and Sagaing, respectively. Rakhine, Mandalay, and Mon also demonstrated dominance in their games. Sagaing triumphed over Taninthayi 3-0, and Mon edged out Ayeyawady 2-1.
Inter-State and Region Basketball matches for players under 23 saw Mandalay outscoring Nay Pyi Taw 83-30, and Sagaing defeating Taninthayi 79-32. Shan outperformed Kayah 70-34, and Kachin secured a decisive 75-26 win against Magway.
Inter-State and Region Futsal competitions at Wunna Theikdi showcased thrilling matches. Rakhine men’s team beat Kayin 4-2, while Magway dominated Mon 2-0. Shan registered a 5-1 victory over Sagaing, and Mandalay overwhelmed Kayah 6-0. Kachin had a commanding 10-1 win against Chin, and Yangon secured a 2-0 victory over Bago. The women’s futsal matches were equally intense, with Yangon defeating Kachin 1-0 and Nay Pyi Taw beating Bago 5-1.
In the Inter-State and Region volleyball event for players under 20, the Kayah men’s team edged out Magway 3-2, while Nay Pyi Taw overcame Yangon with the same scoreline. Mandalay swept Mon 3-0. The women’s matches saw Yangon dominating Ayeyawady and Sagaing beating Kayin in a close 3-2 contest.
In the Inter-State and Region football event for players under 21, Yangon triumphed over Magway 4-1, while Mon and Chin ended in a goalless draw. For women under 25, Bago and Rakhine concluded their match in a 2-2 draw, while Mandalay narrowly defeated Yangon 1-0.
The inter-ministry football matches highlighted the prowess of the Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs, which defeated the Ministry of Energy 2-0. The Ministry of Defence demonstrated exceptional form with a 5-0 win against the Ministry of Ethnic Affairs. — MNA/KZL
