Shirley Ling is not about to call it quits

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Shirley displays the flag of UMS after collecting two silvers in the Masum Sukan Racquet Championship.

SIBU: Sarawak tennis star Shirley Ling is making use of her remaining university years to carve a name for herself in the tennis fraternity.

Ling, 24, a final-year Sports Science student of University Malaysia Sabah (UMS), surprisingly collected two silver medals in the Girls’ Singles and Girls’ Doubles in the 2015 MASUM Tennis Championships held in Kuching over the weekend.

“Hopefully, the victory will encourage and motivate me to strive harder as I aim higher for further accolades in the sport,” said the shy-speaking Ling.

In the Girls’ Singles, she lost to a player from UiTM 4-6, 4-6 after the grueling matches that lasted more than two hours.

Ling later partnered with Michelle Boyou, also from UMS, but again, lost to the UiTM pair at 2-6, 4-6.

Despite the failure to win the title, Ling was not all dejected.

“The championship is a good platform for me to polish my skills and to showcase my skills against some of the more established players in the country,” she said.

Ling has been a familiar face in the tennis arena, having represented Sarawak and helped the state won numerous titles in the past few years.

In 2014, she took part in the Asean University Games (AUG games) and helped Malaysia secure the second placing in the Women’s team event, with Thailand taking the title.

In 2013, she took part in the World University Games (WUG) in Russia where she was elbowed out in the second round.

She also took part in the Malaysian Institutions of Higher Learning Games (SUKIPT) championship in the past two years, winning a silver medal in 2013 and a bronze medal in 2014.

Once the darling of Sarawak Lawn Tennis Sports Federation, Shirley had faded into oblivion since she left school after completing her Form Five four years ago.

She was the toast of Sarawak team at the 2008 Terengganu Sukma and 2010 Malacca Sukma.

In the Terengganu Sukma, she garnered a silver medal in the Girls’ singles and a gold medal in the team event whereas in the Malacca Sukma, she obtained a silver in the mixed double and bronze in the Girl’s Doubles.

Her greatest achievement thus far was the second placing in the International Tennis Federation U-14 championship held in Myanmar.

Ling said she was not about to hang up her racquets even after she completed her university studies.

“Tennis is my first love and I will continue to play the sport even after completing my university studies,” she added.

Her immediate aim is to go a step higher and hopefully to compete with the national players if given a chance.

“I do hope to ink my name in the tennis arena and ensure that my years of training will not end up in waste.”