Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, March 3, 2025: The Olympic Council of Malaysia has announced Paris Olympians Muhammad Aniq Kasdan (weightlifting) and Khiew Hoe Yean (aquatics-swimming) as the first two recipients of the OCM Athletes’ Education Fund.
The two Olympians stand to receive a scholarship worth RM 10,000 per annum until they complete their Bachelor’s Degree.
Aniq, who missed a bronze medal by 1kg at Paris 2024, is pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree in Sports Management at UiTM Shah Alam.
The Johor-born athlete became the first Malaysian weightlifter to win a medal at the IWF World Championship by bagging silver in the clean and jerk men’s 55kg category in Uzbekistan in 2021, before taking bronze in clean and jerk men’s 61kg in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia in 2023.
In December 2024, Aniq secured two silver medals in the clean and jerk and overall category of the men’s 61kg in the World Championship in Manama, Bahrain.
“I wish to express my gratitude to OCM for this scholarship. This will help me focus on my sporting pursuits without having to worry about my studies,” said Aniq, who turns 23 in June.
Hoe Yean, who turns 23 in September, is working towards earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science at UCSI University.
The Kuala Lumpur-born swimmer, who bagged two gold medals in the 31st SEA Games Vietnam 2021, is the national record holder in the men’s 400m freestyle, 800m freestyle and 1,500m freestyle.
“I am still in the early stages of my degree but the OCM scholarship goes a long way in helping me juggle my responsibilities. This way, I shall be able to focus on the intense training schedule,” said Hoe Yean.
OCM invites applications for the OCM Athletes’ Education Fund via its website https://edufund.olympics.com.my and social media platforms as well as the National Sports Associations (NSAs) affiliated with OCM.
To be eligible for the scholarship, the applicant must meet the following criteria:
1. Malaysian citizen
2. Active or retired national athlete
3. Currently enrolled at an approved local university or centres of learning or have been accepted to enter into an approved local university or centres of learning
4. Currently enrolled in or have been accepted to study in a course or program that will enhance future career prospects
5. National athletes who have participated in any multi-sport games under the jurisdiction of OCM will be given higher priority.