ATHLETES HAIL NEW PLANS

CPF top-ups and uni scholarships offer more support and peace of mind’

- Deepanraj Ganesan

Inspired by her senior Amita Berthier, fencer Juliet Heng wants to follow in her footsteps and do the country proud at the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.

Heng, 19, hopes to enrol in the University of Notre Dame in Indiana, which has a strong tradition in sports like fencing and counts the likes of two-time Olympic individual foil champion Lee Kiefer and Berthier among its alumnae.

But furthering her studies overseas would mean putting additional financial constraints on her family, which led to Heng having reservations.

That was until plans for a spex Education Undergraduate Scholarship for student-athletes were unveiled.

The undergrad scholarship programme was first announced by Prime Minister Lawrence Wong in April, with details revealed by Minister for Culture, Community and Youth (MCCY) Edwin Tong in a speech at a post-National Day Rally engagement session for over 300 people at the Singapore Sports Hub on Aug 21.

From Sept 1, student-athletes will be able to apply for the undergrad scholarship via two tracks - the dual-career path for athletes pursuing their studies while training and competing, and the new-career track for those who choose to study after retiring from competitive sport.