Making the people you love proud is tough, but it’s even tougher to do it for the country. As Malaysians celebrate the country’s Independence Day this year, themed Keluarga Malaysia Teguh Bersama or Malaysian Family Stronger Together, they are reminded that anything can be achieved by working together. And one of the best ways to see Malaysians working together is through sports. Sports has always been something that brings people together, regardless of race or religion.
The Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games held from 28 July to 8 August saw an intense performance by the women’s table tennis team, comprising Karen Lyne, Tee Ai Xin, Alice Chang and Ho Ying, who bagged Malaysia’s first silver medal at the Commonwealth Games since 2014.
Tee Ai Xin, a student pursuing the Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Accounting and Finance programme at INTI International University, believes that setbacks are an opportunity to overcome her fears.
Tee Ai Xin, a student pursuing the Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Accounting and Finance programme at INTI International University, is still in awe of the Malaysian women’s table tennis team’s achievements. Paired with Wong Qi Shen, they stunned the audience by eliminating India in the quarterfinals.
Before the competition, Ai Xin often goes through her notes on game techniques to ease her mind. According to her, it is good to clear the mind before competing in order to give 110% focus on the game. Living by the quote “Courage is not the absence of fear”, she perceives setbacks and hardships as an opportunity to overcome her fears to realise her dream of becoming a renowned athlete.
“As a national player, you will be criticised at times. It affects me but not for long. Instead of running from criticism, I learned how to tackle criticism rather than letting it crush me,” said Ai Xin.
When asked about her journey as an athlete and a student, she said she hopes to graduate with flying colours.
“Education is not a race. Although being a student athlete is challenging, it gives me invaluable experiences that improved my character as a student or person in general. I will grow at my own pace and it would be a dream come true to succeed in both fields,” she added.
Ho Ying, an alumna of the Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Marketing programme at INTI International College Subang, hopes to receive a scholarship which will allow her to pursue her master’s degree in the future.
According to Ai Xin, INTI has been supportive of her journey as a student athlete and allowed her to tailor her schedule to meet the demands of both her studies and sports.
“I feel the weight lifted off my shoulders after receiving the support of the faculty in terms of personal consultation and additional tutorials so that I don’t get left behind,” she said.
On her silver medal win, Ai Xin said the moment was a culmination of the years of dedication, persistence, and discipline that the team put in. Being an athlete has helped her develop a strong character.
“Being an athlete demands self-discipline or focus. This is something I can use in my academics – helps me to manage my time effectively when I have deadlines or focus on tasks that should be prioritised,” she said with a smile.
INTI International College Subang alumna Ho Ying showed true Harimau Malaya spirit in the women’s team semi-finals on 30 July. Ho Ying, who graduated with a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Marketing, said the win was unexpected but truly paid off all the hard work and effort.
Reminiscing the moment when the team ran towards her as she collapsed in tears after defeating India, she said, “We trained hard for the championship and all I could think of was to make the country I love proud of me. Thankfully, I managed to soldier through,” added Ho Ying.
(Second from left) Ho Ying and Tee Ai Xin (fourth from left) at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.
The 27-year-old expressed how touched she was by the overwhelming support from Malaysian supporters during the event in Birmingham.
“It boosted my confidence to a whole new level. While competing, Malaysians cheered Malaysia Boleh and it made me forget about the injury I sustained due to overtraining,” she said.
Looking back on her days as a student, she also credited her lecturers for easing her journey.
“I am indebted to everyone who was involved in my journey, especially INTI. It would be difficult for me to juggle everything at once without the strong support received from the lecturers. Education is important for a better future, and I enjoy studying and meeting friends. It gives me a different vibe outside of sports training,” she said, adding that she hoped to pursue her master’s degree at INTI International University when she is ready.
Tee Ai Xin and Ho Yin also secured a bronze medal win for women’s table tennis at the 31st Southeast Asian (SEA) Games 2022 which was held in Hanoi, Vietnam in May.