Pickleball is poised for a significant step forward in Singapore, as OCBC Group and the Singapore Sports Hub launch a new programme to grow participation and introduce one of Southeast Asia’s largest competitions dedicated to the sport.
Under the initiative, eight new outdoor pickleball courts will open at the Sports Hub from January 2026, providing more than 20,000 hours of public playtime each year. The courts, converted from existing tennis and basketball facilities, will operate as dual-use spaces with scheduled slots for each sport. Public bookings will start from S$5 during non-peak hours.
A National Stadium Stage for a Fast-Growing Sport
The partnership also includes a flagship tournament at the National Stadium in Q3 2026, expected to draw over 2,000 participants across more than 20 competition courts set up on the stadium floor. Leading up to the main event, a series of games and activities involving over 500 players will take place at the Sports Hub to build community momentum.
Bank of Singapore will additionally host an invite-only corporate challenge, bringing together clients and business leaders who have taken up the sport.
Corporate Collaboration to Support a Rising Trend
Pickleball has seen significant growth globally and in Singapore, driven by its accessibility to people of all ages and ability levels. The partnership marks the first time OCBC Bank, Bank of Singapore, and Great Eastern are jointly supporting a sporting programme as One OCBC Group.
Group CEO of OCBC Bank, Ms Helen Wong, said of the pickleball partnership with the Singapore Sports Hub: “We are excited to bring pickleball to even more people in Singapore as One OCBC Group. For the first time, all our major entities – OCBC Bank, Bank of Singapore and Great Eastern – are coming together to jointly support an increasingly popular sport that deserves to be even more easily accessible. The Singapore Sports Hub and OCBC Group share a common vision – not just in promoting sports, but in bringing entertainment and lifestyle activities to the community. Two other iconic sporting events, OCBC Cycle and the Great Eastern Women’s Run, are already staged at the Singapore Sports Hub. Expanding this partnership represents a natural and strategic alignment for us.”
Quek Swee Kuan, CEO of Kallang Alive Sport Management, added: “As a destination, Singapore Sports Hub offers quality spaces and programmes for lifestyle, recreational and competitive sporting pursuits. The addition of pickleball, an accessible and inclusive sport, to our offerings reflects our commitment to be
responsive to the needs of players and communities in our midst. We are
pleased to partner OCBC Group, amongst other like-minded organisations, to
deliver on our various initiatives to grow the sport and strengthen the broader
pickleball ecosystem.”
More details on the tournament and lead-up activities will be shared in Q1 2026. In the meantime, members of the public can already register their interest in upcoming pickleball programmes at the Sports Hub here.
