SUCCESS in sports can bring a country international recognition while enhancing national pride, promoting peace and friendship, building a positive national image, inspiring younger generations, and creating economic opportunities. For this reason, countries around the world increasingly seek to strengthen their national image through achievements in sports. Myanmar is likewise placing special emphasis on the development and promotion of sports.
At the 20th Asian Games, held in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, from 19 September to 4 October, Myanmar’s national Esports team, Zanaka, won the gold medal in the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB) competition, defeating several experienced and highly competitive Asian teams.
Myanmar’s first appearance in an Esports event at the Asian Games resulted in a historic gold medal, opening a new chapter for the country’s Esports sector. The five MLBB players – Myo Myint Ko Ko Kyaw, Hein Htet Oo, Kyaw Thura, Han Htoo Swe, and Shine Lin Aung – overcame strong opponents step by step, from the group stage through the Grand Final. They eventually defeated Indonesia in the championship match to become Asian champions.
Myanmar finished 22nd among the 45 participating countries at the Asian Games. The achievement also marked Myanmar’s highest-ever success at the Asian level in Esports, signalling the beginning of a new golden era and opening the door to greater achievements in digital sports.
Here are the heartfelt reflections of the MLBB athletes and officials who brought the historic Asian Games gold medal for the country.
Dr Kaung Myat San (President, Myanmar Electronic Sports Federation)
My parents and grandparents often told me about the golden era of Myanmar football in the 1960s, when legendary players such as Maha Duu tried for Myanmar to win an Asian Games gold medal. Today, our MLBB Esports team has achieved another historic gold medal through a teambased sport. This is also the first historic gold medal Myanmar has won on the Asian stage since the 2000s through a modern digital sport based on technology and brain power, defeating some of the world’s leading countries. This achievement represents a dream that generations of Myanmar athletes have hoped to fulfil. It has also made one of the biggest dreams of my life a reality, so I am incredibly happy and proud.
From the 2025 PUBG Mobile World Cup championship and the 2026 MLBB World Cup silver medal to this Asian Games gold medal, these consecutive achievements have demonstrated Myanmar’s emergence as a Digital Sports Powerhouse in Asia and the world. We have shown that the intelligence, technological ability and determination of Myanmar’s young people can compete at the highest international level. Since becoming President of the Federation, one of my main goals has been to create opportunities for Myanmar Esports athletes to proudly represent the country and compete successfully on the world’s and Asia’s highest official sporting stages, including the SEA Games, Asian Games and Olympics.
Seeing our athletes raise the Myanmar flag to the highest point on the Asian stage and hearing the National Anthem played after they won the gold medal through their Myanmar spirit, mutual trust and teamwork made me immensely proud and happy as Federation President.
I would also like to express my special thanks to the President of the State for allowing us to participate in the Asian Games and to the Ministry concerned for its close guidance and support throughout the competition.
The Asian Games gold medal we have won is not only a victory for the Esports community. It is a victory for Myanmar’s youth, the entire Myanmar sporting community, and all Myanmar people.
Together with this historic Asian gold medal, we have fulfilled the hopes of the entire nation and opened a golden door for a new era of Esports in Myanmar.
Since the establishment of MESF, more than K8 billion has been provided in investment and support for the development of young people and Esports in Myanmar. We sincerely thank KBZ Bank, U Aung Ko Win, Founder of KBZ Group, MESF Founder and Lead Patron; Daw Nan Lang Kham, Founder of KBZPay, MESF Founder and Honorary Patron; and Daw Nan Kham Naung for their continued support and close guidance toward restoring Myanmar’s golden era of Esports. We would also like to extend our heartfelt thanks to KBZ Bank and KBZPay for providing prize money and K500 million in grassroots funding in recognition of this historic gold medal; to our partners, including Lipo-Vitan D, Sinoda, U9 and Kaung Thukha, for their support throughout the Asian Games journey; to the media for covering and sharing information about our achievements; and to our fans, families and the people of Myanmar for their unwavering support.
Min Tun Aung (Coach, MLBB)
As a coach, I worked closely with the players, discussing and advising them so they could understand the meta and the game better than their opponents. I also worked hard to keep our draft picks and playstyle compact, effective and innovative.
As a coach, I am incredibly happy and proud that our team has been able to bring honour to the country and contribute to Myanmar with this gold medal.
Shine Lin Aung (Asian Games Gold Medallist)
I chose Esports because, during the COVID-19 period, mobile games became very popular among young people. At that time, I realized that these games could actually become a career path, which led me to choose Esports. I want young people to make the right choices for their future. Everyone should try to do something that can contribute to their country, their community and the people around them. I consider Esports to be the light of my future. I have a deep dream of using this path to show the world what Myanmar is capable of and to raise the Myanmar flag on the global stage. With the strength and support given to us by the people, we will continue moving from the Asian level toward the world stage. I am determined to continue bringing pride and honour to Myanmar.
Hein Htet Oo (Asian Games Gold Medallist)
At the previous MSC tournament, we competed under the name YG and achieved success. This time, however, competing at the Asian Games under the name Team Myanmar meant that our success was not only for ourselves but also represented our country.
That made us extremely excited. Deep inside, our entire team wanted to show the world what Myanmar could achieve.
Whenever I think about winning the gold medal for our country, I feel an overwhelming sense of happiness and pride.
Now that we have become Asian Games champions, teams from other countries will be watching us closely. We will work hard to maintain the standard we have achieved.
We are motivated to compete at increasingly higher-level international tournaments. To continue bringing home medals and bringing pride to Myanmar as we move from the Asian stage to the world stage, we will continue our intensive team training without slowing down.
Kyaw Thura (Asian Games Gold Medalist)
Countries such as the Philippines, Indonesia and Malaysia are major powers in MLBB, with strong and well-established teams. For future competitions, we will study these teams carefully and prepare ourselves to overcome them.
At these Asian Games, the Indonesian team was the opponent we paid particular attention to. They have excellent teamwork and very precise rotations, so we prepared especially carefully for that match.
I would also like to sincerely thank my teammates and friends who worked tirelessly together from the group stage all the way to becoming Asian champions.
I am grateful to our Federation President and our coach for their constant support and guidance. Most importantly, I would like to thank all the Myanmar fans who supported us and encouraged us to win the gold medal for our country.
Myo Myint Ko Ko Kyaw (Asian Games Gold Medallist)
Before reaching the Grand Final, we played against the Malaysian representative team. In Game 2, our team was falling behind, and it was an extremely tense moment.
We managed to turn the game around and win. That victory guaranteed us at least a silver medal and secured our place in the Final, which made me incredibly happy.
Before the Final began, rather than simply feeling nervous, I kept thinking about how we could defeat our opponents.
Because we were competing as representatives of our country, I knew we might not get another opportunity like this. I made a firm decision that we had to win gold for our country and the Federation, so I approached the competition with complete focus.
We competed with unity, balance and the spirit of representing our country, determined to raise the State Flag to the top of the pole.
I am extremely happy and proud that we were able to turn our goal into reality. We will continue working hard.
Han Htoo Swe (Asian Games Gold Medallist)
Seeing Esports athletes being treated equally alongside athletes from other countries, and seeing the same level of care given to things such as uniforms and footwear, made me even prouder of our sport.
Because we were competing as representatives of Myanmar, we were also happy and proud to have the opportunity to show the world what Myanmar is.
The most emotional moment was seeing the Myanmar State Flag raised above those of other countries and hearing our National Anthem being played. I felt overwhelmed, got goosebumps and even had tears in my eyes.
Looking at the other countries, I felt deeply in my heart, “This is Myanmar.”
The greatest feeling of all was having the opportunity to hear and sing our National Anthem among athletes from other countries. It was an indescribable moment of happiness, and even now, when I think back on it, I feel deeply satisfied and proud that we were able to achieve this for our country and people. — Thitsa (MNA)/KTZH
#GlobalNewLightOfMyanmar
