SINGAPORE – With her sights set on a SEA Games gold medal in Thailand in December, wushu exponent Zeanne Law has taken a gap year from her studies to focus on her preparations.

When she resumes her academic pursuits in 2026, she will be doing so with a boost from Sport Singapore.

Law, 19, was among the inaugural batch of 12 athletes who received the spexEducation Undergraduate Scholarship from the national sports agency at the Singapore Sport Excellence (spex) Athletes Investiture at Singapore Sports School (SSP) on April 15.

The scholarship is aimed at supporting athletes in universities who are pursuing their studies while training and competing, as well as those who are seeking sponsorship of their undergraduate studies after their sporting careers.

Seven new athletes, including golfer Shannon Tan, were also inducted into the spexScholarship programme which supports athletes to excel at the Asian and world stage.

There were 26 new athletes in the spexPotential programme, which aims to prepare them to succeed at the SEA Games level before transitioning to the bigger stage.

Law, who had attained an international baccalaureate diploma with SSP, is hoping to pursue a bachelor’s degree in speech and language therapy at the Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT).

The bemedalled athlete, who was also awarded the spexScholarship in 2024 after being crowned the women’s taijiquan world champion at the 2023 World Wushu Championships, said: “I’m planning to start university next year with this scholarship and I think it will better support me in both my education and sport.

“Last year, when I received the spexScholarship, my priorities definitely shifted towards sport and sometimes my teachers will call me in to have extra consultations.

“But with the spexEducation Undergraduate Scholarship, I hope that I can make better arrangements to better support the education and sporting areas and relieve the financial burden on my family.”

The spexEducation scholarship was first announced by Prime Ministe...