YANGON: Myanmar's traditional national sport, chinlone (caneball, known as sepak takraw in Malaysia), will be submitted for United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) intangible culture heritage recognition in March 2026, according to the Myanmar Chinlone Federation (MCF) on Wednesday (Feb 19).
To prepare for the submission, the Myanmar Chinlone Federation has formed a committee and gathered data on chinlone's cultural significance, Win Tint, vice president of the federation, told Xinhua.
Chinlone has been part of Myanmar's culture for about 1,500 years, he said, adding that if recognised by Unesco, it will gain global attention and support for its growth, he said.
Originally, chinlone was played for royal entertainment and physical fitness and it was officially recognised as a sport in 1953, he noted.
Chinlone is a low-cost and healthy sport. Medical experts state that playing chinlone could strengthen leg muscles and promote heart health, he said.
While playing chinlone, players work together to keep a hand-woven rattan ball in the air without letting it touch the ground, promoting teamwork and unity, he added.
As part of Myanmar's chinlone achievements, the sport has been officially included in the 2013 SEA Games, with Myanmar winning medals in every competition, Win Tint said. - Xinhua
