SINGAPORE — National table-tennis players who want to pursue an academic degree can now do so for free, thanks to a tie-up between the Singapore Table Tennis Association (STTA) and SIM University (UniSIM).

The local private educational institution inked a five-year UniSIM-STTA Sports Leader Sponsorship agreement with the national sports association yesterday to select two paddlers every year and sponsor all their tuition fees for their undergraduate degree programmes and Continuing Education and Training (CET) modular courses.

This means that up to 10 national players can get to study for their degrees for free at UniSIM.

UniSIM offers part-time undergraduate degree programmes which can be completed within eight years. Each costs between S$7,000 and S$8,000 per year. The agreement makes UniSIM the latest local academic body — after Nanyang Technological University, Republic Polytechnic and the Singapore Sports School — to join the STTA in its efforts to ensure that national paddlers do not miss out academically while training and playing full-time.

Yesterday’s signing ceremony was held at UniSIM’s Clementi campus, with Acting Manpower Minister Tan Chuan-Jin as the guest of honour.

STTA President Lee Bee Wah said the deal will “maximise the potential of elite athletes” and also “encourage more local talents to pursue professional table tennis”.

“It is our belief that solid agreements between STTA and the educational sector will enable our players to focus on their pursuit for sporting excellence, knowing that their post-playing careers will be well taken care of,” she added.

The STTA will nominate the paddlers each year based on their performances and their academic aptitude, and they will not need to serve a bond with UniSIM or STTA upon completion of their studies.

One player likely to receive the sponsorship is 16-year-old Yee Herng Hwee — who is currently studying at the Singapore Sports School and will graduate next year. Said Yee, who is aiming to qualify for next year’s Youth Olympic Games: “I am very glad for this opportunity ... and I look forward to pursue a course in engineering as this is my interest, on top of table tennis as a sport.”

UniSIM President Professor Cheong Hee Kiat said his school’s flexible programmes are “ideal for up-and-coming paddlers seeking to balance studying and high-level training”. He added that he is open to making similar agreements with other national sports associations, as he finds aiding the next generation of sportsmen in Singapore a worthy and beneficial cause. Adelene Wong