Yap Qian Ling

Back then, being a student-athlete was never an easy task as I had to make two full time commitments. One to the sport that I was in, Rhythmic Gymnastics while another one to my studies. However, I actually enjoyed the time when I was a student-athlete as it had meant so much more than what it has shown to be. I learnt critical life lesson through the sport and knowing how to deal with stress on variety levels.

My team and I took part in various tournaments in different parts of the world, including international tournament in Greece and Uzbekistan, rigorous training camps in Japan, and we even competed in the 25th Sea Games where we managed to grab a silver medal.

There were always ups and downs but as the saying goes, “Victory is paid for in sweat, courage, and preparation.”

However, the real challenge came after the SEA Games. I was diagnosed with a disease known as Alopecia which caused my hair to fall and could only be cured under constant treatment by steroids. This incident has taught me to come back stronger and look at things in a different light. Most importantly, it taught me not to give up easily no matter what hardships I face and to always have faith in myself.

Yap Qian Ling
Institute of Chartered Accountant in England & Wales (ICAEW)
Sunway Sports Scholarship