Making waves on the world stage: Mounisha Devi Manivannan’s water polo journey

Balancing medical school and elite sport is no easy feat but Mounisha Devi Manivannan (Medicine ’25), took it in stride. She was a part of the Singapore’s women’s water polo team that clinched a historic fourth-place finish at the Hangzhou Asian Games and a first-ever qualifying spot at the World Aquatic Championships. Her achievements in the pool earned her the NUS Mid-Term Sports Scholarship (Sports Excellence) in AY24/25.

As Mounisha graduates from NUS, OSA caught up with her to find out about her journey and how she plans to keep pursuing excellence — in and out of the pool.

Mounisha (right) receiving the NUS Mid-Term Sports Scholarship (Sports Excellence) certificate from Prof Goh Say Song, Dean of Office of Admissions, at the NUS Achievement Awards 2024.

OSA: When did you begin water polo and what inspired you to pursue it competitively?

I began water polo in my first year of Junior College, and what inspired me to pursue water polo competitively was my belief that I could be something more. It was my belief that I could jump higher, react faster, play smarter that pushed me to pursue water polo competitively — and that belief drove me to push myself in the sport to bring that version of myself to life. It was my belief in my own potential and my desire to realise that potential which sparked my passion for competing in water polo.

OSA: What are some greatest achievements in your water polo career so far? Can you list two?

My two greatest achievements in my water polo career are, first, being part of the Singapore women’s water polo team that defeated our long-time rivals, the Thailand national team, at the Hangzhou Asian Games and achieving fourth position in Asia – the best ever result in the history of Women’s water polo. We were also the team that achieved the best results in the entire Singapore contingent. That result also earned us a spot to compete at the World Aquatic Championships in 2024, a first- ever for Water Polo in Singapore. It felt incredible to push boundaries and break barriers together as a team. The second was definitely being selected for the SEA Games for the first time, as it was proof that my belief in myself was not unfounded.

Mounisha successfully blocking a goal attempt from her opponents.

OSA: NUS offers student life scholarships, including one for sports. In your opinion, why are such scholarships important to aspiring athletes?

The biggest sacrifice for any athlete is time and that is precisely what I consider to be the biggest benefit which this scholarship provides. It allows athletes to spend less time worrying about how to finance their education and more time focusing on excelling both academically and in their sporting careers, as well as managing the other vicissitudes of life. This scholarship also provided me with avenues of support in NUS to ensure a smoother academic journey during my time here.

OSA: How was it like having to balance training sessions with your academics, especially with clinical sessions?

In short—difficult. The path of a student-athlete is not one to be undertaken without strong resolve and intense passion. Even though I love my sport and my studies, it was, and continues to be, a tiring and demanding endeavour to balance both academic and athletic commitments. Discipline and effective time management were skills I had to develop, but more importantly, juggling training sessions with academics taught me to constantly reflect on my purpose: Why am I doing this? Why do I continue to push myself? Why do I insist on pursuing both my academic and athletic goals? Why am I willing to sacrifice so much? When the why is clear, the how and what become much easier to manage.

As an NUS Medicine student, Mounisha juggled a rigorous academic schedule on top of her athletic commitments.

OSA: What are your immediate plans in terms of your career and sporting pursuits?

In terms of my career, I am currently working as a House Officer at the Singapore General Hospital (SGH). Regarding water polo, I aim to continue playing for the national team in the foreseeable future. I will also be playing at the World Championships this July and vying for a spot in the SEA Games team.

OSA: Any words of advice to NUS students who are thinking of applying for this scholarship?

As the wise Master Yoda once said: “Do or do not. There is no try.” There is no room for half-hearted effort—realise your full potential. If you believe in your aspirations and your dreams, then chase them to the ends of the earth. You've got this!

This is the first of a three-part series celebrating the student life achievements of our graduands from the Class of 2025. Click here for info NUS Commencement.