Local-born paddlers who make it to a coveted Olympics spot will no longer have to worry about funding their tertiary education, according to the Singapore Table Tennis Association (STTA).

The STTA announced the establishment of the STTA-Dr Tahir & Associates Future Ready Trust Fund on Monday morning. It has a value of $1 million - the largest ever philanthropic sum donated to the STTA by an individual - which goes towards qualified paddlers' tuition fees at any local or foreign university.

STTA president Lee Bee Wah tipped 2010 Youth Olympic Games paddlers Isabelle Li and Clarence Chew as potential recipients of the trust fund. Li, 19, recently graduated from Republic Polytechnic and will defer her university studies to chase her Olympic dream.

Lee added that the trust fund would also cover courses for other life skills, should qualified paddlers choose not to go to a university after their playing careers.