National sprinter Shanti Pereira was named the first recipient of the SMU's Yip Pin Xiu Scholarship yesterday. The new bond-free bursary, launched last December, is named after Paralympic champion and SMU School of Social Sciences undergraduate Yip Pin Xiu and is for local elite athletes. It offers full waiver of tuition fees for four years and an allowance of up to $12,000 which can be used for a range of programmes, including overseas exchange courses.

SMU Provost Professor Lily Kong, who hosted the award reception yesterday, also announced that the school is already working with Shanti and Singapore Athletics on the athlete's plans for the year. She could even get the chance to train in the United States, when she does her exchange programme at the University of Oregon, which is known to be the track capital of the world. Prof Kong added: "The school has already put in place a structure that will coordinate the support that she (Shanti) will need to continue to succeed academically and in sports.”

"It's a good way to enhance my track performance, so that's a good way the school can support me," said Shanti Pereira, the SEA Games 200m champion. She added that SMU's flexibility in allowing student-athletes to juggle sports and studies was a boon. "It makes me excited and I feel honoured to receive a scholarship named after Pin Xiu. I definitely want to embody the kind of spirit and (emulate her), who is both a good student and an athlete." Pin Xiu, who won two gold medals at last year's Paralympic Games, said it is great that SMU is so supportive towards athletes, especially for Shanti who is aiming for greater achievements at the SEA Games and the Asian Games.