Source:REUTERS/Dylan Martinez
[Saba Sports News] At the Paris Olympics, there is a group of athletes who represent their entire nation, stepping onto the field as heroes. Their stories are the best interpretation of the Olympic spirit. Among the many badminton players at the Olympics, Thet Htar Thuzar from Myanmar may not be widely known, but for a small sporting nation like Myanmar, her presence is already dazzling. Reaching the round of 16 at the Badminton World Championships and finishing 15th in the women’s singles at the Tokyo Olympics, even though she hasn’t won gold or silver on the international stage, this young athlete has repeatedly made history for Myanmar’s sports. At this Olympics, Thet Htar Thuzar finished 27th in the women’s singles badminton event. Although the result was not ideal, she remains committed to her goal: to draw more attention to badminton in Myanmar. From 2021 to 2023, Thet Htar Thuzar participated in the World Badminton Championships three times, the most by any Myanmar badminton player. Currently, her world ranking in women’s singles has risen to 43rd. In her vision, besides fighting hard as an athlete, she has more plans, such as engaging in the business of importing badminton equipment after retirement or working with the Badminton World Federation, hoping to promote the development of badminton in Myanmar.