As the world No. 15 para table tennis player and a national champion, Gloria Gracia Wong Sze is the picture of composure and determination every time she takes up her paddle. Beyond her athletic achievements and aspirations, Gloria never lost sight of another goal that matters deeply to her: education.
National para table tennis player Gloria hones her skills at
TAR UMT’s well-equipped sports complex.
Determined to pursue a promising sporting career and fulfilling tertiary education at the same time, the Kuching-born lass made the decision to pursue a Diploma in Sports and Exercise Science at TAR UMT. This endeavour reflects a rare blend of focus, intellect, and passion in Gloria, who’s taking the road less travelled in pursuit of excellence in both sports and studies.
“I started playing table tennis at the age of 10, primarily influenced by my parents and siblings who all played table tennis. When I moved to Kuala Lumpur in 2015 to pursue my table tennis career, I was committed to not put my education on hold. For me, education is essential because it gives me more options for my life after graduating, and not just limiting myself to table tennis.
Furthermore, I am inspired by my peers, who are student athletes and were able to successfully juggle between studies and sports, which made me want to follow in their footsteps,” she explained.
Determined, Gloria began searching for the ideal university that could support her ideals. “A senior player recommended his alma mater, TAR UMT. I was excited to discover that TAR UMT has a course in sports science, and I was able to apply for a full scholarship offered to athletes. This worked out perfectly for me because the scholarship allowed me to focus on both my studies and my sport without worrying about anything else.”
Having completed her first year of diploma at TAR UMT, Gloria has adapted seamlessly to her student athlete lifestyle which includes a disciplined training regime to help her stay in top form. Taking advantage of TAR UMT’s many well-equipped sports facilities, Gloria was able to refine her table tennis skills via practice sessions in the spacious indoor sports complex. On top of that, Gloria is able to make use of the gymnasiums, running track, and swimming pool to add some variety into her strength and endurance training to level up her game.
“The facilities located on campus make it so much easier for me to manage my time between training and studies as I do not need to constantly travel and train with the national team.”
In between training sessions, Gloria keeps her
academic goals on track at TAR UMT.
Beyond the facilities, Gloria also treasures the strong sense of belonging she experiences at TAR UMT. “My lecturers are very understanding about my commitments, and are accommodating and flexible in my schoolwork deadlines. Plus, my classmates are always ready to lend a hand when I miss lessons by sharing notes and helping me revise so I am never behind in my studies,” she said.
So far, Gloria’s decision to join TAR UMT has yielded positive results, as her skills in table tennis continue to grow despite her additional academic commitments. In 2025 alone, she won one gold medal in the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) World Para Future Lignano, one gold and one silver medal at the ITTF World Para Future Costa Brava, and one gold and one bronze in the ITTF World Para Challenger Astana in Kazakhstan.
This success is no accident, as Gloria also credits her book smarts for giving her an additional competitive edge. “What I am studying in my diploma gave me a deeper understanding about my performance, cultivate a positive mindset, and how to manage myself as an athlete. Some of the topics I learned such as sports psychology and biomechanics allowed me to analyse and fine-tune my game, which I think made a real difference when I stepped on to the court.”
Looking forward, Gloria remains focused on doing well, regardless of whether she is holding a book or a bat. One of her immediate targets is to improve on her ASEAN Para Games 2023 silver-medal finish, by aiming for a gold medal in the ASEAN Para Games 2025 to be held in Thailand in January 2026.
Gloria proves that training and education lead to international medals and the world No. 15 ranking.
“I have set my sights on working towards graduating from TAR UMT with flying colours, and continue to win more medals on the international stage. Beyond that, my ultimate dream is to represent Malaysia in the Paralympics,” she said confidently.
