KUALA LUMPUR – Balancing academic studies with the demands of being a student-athlete can be challenging, but national discus thrower Queenie Ting Kung Ni finds solace in the understanding attitude of her lecturers at Universiti Putra Malaysia.
Despite her commitment to sports, Queenie, a fifth-year bachelor of physical education student, emphasised that this understanding should not be an excuse to neglect educational responsibilities.
Expressing gratitude for the support from her lecturers, Queenie acknowledged the importance of meticulous planning to harmonise both her studies and athletic pursuits.
“I’m thankful that my lecturers understand my position as a national athlete. But I don’t want to take that for granted and use training as an excuse to skip out on classes.
“You have to plan well to balance studies with training and competition,” she told reporters after winning gold in the Grand Finals of the Varsity Track and Field Championships at the UM Arena yesterday.
As a national record holder who set a mark of 52.77m last year at the Higher Learning Institution Grand Final, Queenie also represented Malaysia in the recent Asian Games in Hangzhou.
Despite finishing seventh in the women’s final at the Games, falling short of her national record with a throw of 49.0m, Queenie remains steadfast in her commitment to both academic and athletic excellence.
Looking ahead, Queenie reveals her academic aspirations, expressing interest in pursuing a master’s in child psychology.
“I am intrigued by the psychology of children and what influences their behaviours and how we as adults can interact with them better,” she said.
On the sporting front, currently in her off-season, Queenie said she will discuss her plans for the 2024 season with her coach next month.
Commenting on her experiences, she shared some valuable lessons learned from this season.
“If you want something you not only need to set a target but also need to plan well.
“You also need to discuss it with your team so everyone is on the same page.
“This can help build consistency in your training so you can bring that performance to competition,” she said. – November 18, 2023