Another Sarawakian, Tan Lin Xin, an elite tennis player, is going to the United States (US) after securing sports and academic scholarship. 

Tan Lin Xin is a Sukma gold medalist in tennis will be pursuing a degree in General Psychology at Oklahoma Baptist University. There, she will be joining the University's tennis team. 

"I would like to thank the Sarawak Lawn Tennis Association (SLTA) and their president, Dato Patrick Liew, coaches, fellow players, my parents and relatives for the strong moral and financial support in my tennis career over the years," said Tan.

Tan said tennis has made her a better person and is grateful for the opportunities given especially the overseas exposure March last year where another Sukma tennis teammate Hii Shieng Wee and her brother, Lin En were sent to the US. 

Tan took up tennis when she was only ten-years-old. Her mother enrolled her after her colleagues' children was also playing tennis. She won her first major tournament in 2017 for the Girls Open at SLTA-LSC Junior Open. 

In 2018, Tan was the finalist in Leg 1 of Junior Tour in Kuala Lumpur and won the Girls under-16 in the Leg 3 of Junior Tour in Johor.  In the same year, the emerged as champion in the Junior Age Group under-18 at the Penang Open International Tennis Championship.

Her most significant achievement was reaching the semi-finals of the ITF Palembang, Indonesia in 2019. 

"I am very happy for Tan for her success, where she will not only be furthering her studies but also playing tennis at the university. It has always been SLTA's goal to help its tennis players especially the Sukma players, further their studies via tennis scholarship program," says Dato Liew, president of SLTA.

Over the years, SLTA had more than fifty players furthered their studies in the US with scholarship programs. 

Liew also hopes that with these success stories, parents could open their mind to the wonderful opportunities that tennis can provide.