September 17, Lithuanian and South Korean military basketball teams met in a fight for gold in Seoul (South Korea). After a hard fight representatives of the Lithuanian Armed Forces conceded to the host team by three points (58-61) and won silver for the fourth time.
Troops will return to Lithuania on Sunday.
On the evening before the match Minister of National Defence Rasa Juknevičienė wished success in advancing Lithuania's name to the head of the delegation of the Lithuanian Armed Forces Maj Marius Kugaudas and his team by a text message.
Minister R. Juknevičienė also delivered to the military basketball players wishes to succeed in the decisive match from the bronze-winning national team's chief coach Kęstutis Kemzūra.
In his turn Chief of Defence of Lithuania Maj Gen Arvydas Pocius wished „determination and will in fighting for the gold that they truly deserve".
Lithuanian is represented by a team of 10 members, the majority of them come from the National Defence Volunteer Force, also from LAF Training and Personnel Command, Artillery Battalion and Logistic Command. Coach of the team - representative of NDVF-8 combined team 1st Lt Mindaugas Kildišius.
The 50th World Military Championship is held on September 9-17 in Seoul, South Korea. 13 states take part in the championship (13 men and 3 women teams).
Teams were invited to the championship on the basis of the results they achieved in the last ten years. This is the seventh World Military Basketball Championship for the team of the Lithuanian Armed Forces. Lithuanian troops won silver medals in the last three championships: they conceded to Greece in finals of 2009 in Klaipėda, in 2008 - to hosts of the Championship, US military sportsmen, and in 2005 - to Russian team in Moscow-hosted event.
Source of pictures: http://wmbc2010.basketkorea.com/
More information at: Capt Dainius Morkūnas, Deputy Head of Sports Club of the Lithuanian Armed Forces
Phone 00370 686 13 595, 00370 5 265 6344
