Kemei Lunges Towards Academic And Sporting Success

Feature – Cheung Kemei


At the age of 9, Cheung Kemei was drawn to fencing, inspired by her older brother, who was also involved in the sport. Watching him in action sparked a passion in her that would soon shape her own journey in the sport.

After completing her primary education at Gongshang Primary School, joining the Sports School at Secondary 1 felt like a natural progression, as the athlete-friendly programme offered in the school allowed her to balance her academic and athletic pursuits seamlessly.

In just four years, Kemei earned significant achievement in the sport, representing Singapore at the 31st SEA Games in 2022 at the age of 16. As a debutant, she impressed by securing an individual bronze and a team gold in Women’s Foil. She repeated this success at the 32nd SEA Games in 2023, claiming another individual bronze and another team gold.

Kemei’s achievements extended beyond the SEA Games. She earned a bronze team medal at the 2022 Asian Championship in Seoul and won two bronze medals in the Junior Under-20 Women's Foil event at the 2023 and 2024 Asian Junior & Cadet Fencing Championships.

On the global stage, she was placed 5th in the individual event and earned a team bronze at the World Junior & Cadet Fencing Championships in both 2022 and 2023. She also represented Singapore at the 2023 Asian Games and the 2024 World Junior & Cadet Fencing Championships.

Kemei’s sporting excellence has been recognised through numerous prestigious awards and scholarships, including the 2021 Annabelle Pennefather Excellence Award, the spexScholarship, and the Temasek Foundation Scholarship for Sports in 2023.

Despite her demanding training schedule, Kemei has excelled academically, thanks to the extended International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP) designed for high-performing student-athletes. In partnership with the World Academy of Sports and the International Baccalaureate Organisation, this flexible programme allowed Kemei to spread her studies over three years, instead of the usual two. This accommodation enabled her to balance her rigorous training schedule with her academic responsibilities. As a result, she earned multiple Top in Subject awards and emerged as one of the top student-athletes in the Class of 2024 IBDP cohort.

Reflecting on her time at Sports School, Kemei fondly recalled, “Going for overseas competitions with my friends has created many unforgettable memories. I had the chance to bond with my teammates and form new friendships with fencers from other countries. These experiences have taught me invaluable life lessons that will help me succeed in the future.”

On her achievements, she shared, “Balancing both sports and studies requires great discipline and commitment. With my tight training and academic schedule, time management is crucial. I have to plan my schedule in advance and stick to it. And of course, it takes a village to raise a champion. I’m immensely grateful to the school for their unwavering support, which has helped me balance my academics and fencing.”

Looking ahead, Kemei is excited to embark on the next chapter of her journey. She said, “Although I have not decided on a specific specialisation yet, I hope to enrol in university and continue pursuing my passion for fencing.”