Sun Life Malaysia, a life insurance and family takaful provider, in collaboration with Beyond Sport, a global organisation for social change through sports, has unveiled the newly refurbished Kuala Ampang Basketball Court in Ampang, Kuala Lumpur. This initiative, part of the regional CAD $1 Million Hoops+Health programme by Sun Life and Beyond Sport, aims to foster active lives and bring more joy to local youths by encouraging physical activity and promoting healthier lifestyles through basketball.
The Hoops+Health programme, set to be implemented in Indonesia, the Philippines, Hong Kong, Malaysia, and Vietnam throughout 2024, seeks to benefit local communities through revitalised basketball courts, workshops for coaches, and capacity-building programmes for young basketball players.
The Kuala Ampang Basketball Court renovation included comprehensive resurfacing, repairs, repainting, and enhancements to facility assets such as courtside benches, cooling fans, road safety barriers, and lighting, making it a safer and more enjoyable space for residents.
The court’s official unveiling was attended by Raymond Lew, CEO and President/Country Head of Sun Life Malaysia, Jason Chan, President of the Kuala Ampang Residents Association, and representatives from Sun Life Asia and Beyond Sport, along with Sun Life Malaysia executives, employees, local residents, and basketball coaches and players.
Raymond Lew emphasized at the ceremony that this initiative aligns with Sun Life Malaysia’s purpose of promoting healthier lives and represents a commitment to fostering youth wellness through sports. The goal is to create an accessible and enjoyable environment for local youths to maintain an active lifestyle, ultimately improving overall well-being. Additionally, he highlighted that basketball, as a great social sport, would not only promote healthier lifestyles but also foster community building.
This initiative responds to the 2022 Active Healthy Kids Global Alliance report, jointly released by Sun Life Malaysia, Active Healthy Kids Global Alliance (AHKGA), and Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM). The report gave Malaysian children a D-grade rating for overall physical activity, indicating a pressing need to enhance active youth lifestyles and improve the national health rating.
The court’s comprehensive renovation included resurfacing, repairs, repainting, and enhancements to facility assets such as courtside benches, cooling fans, road safety barriers, and lighting. These improvements ensure that the beloved free-to-use hub is now a safer and more enjoyable space for Kuala Ampang residents.
To further support this initiative, regional education partner ASA Foundation will conduct a coach education workshop in June this year to help local youth coaches enhance their skills and knowledge in using basketball to promote physical health and well-being among young people.
Sun Life Malaysia will also sponsor a six-week free basketball session for youths under 18 at the court. These sessions are tailored to address barriers to sports participation, particularly targeting low-income communities
“We are excited to open the new Hoops+Health basketball court at Ampang in partnership with Sun Life Malaysia, marking another milestone in our work to use sport to create positive social change and support healthy youth,” said Adam Burgess, Director of Programmes at Beyond Sport. “This refurbished court will hopefully become a hub for people of all ages, providing the community with a safer and more accessible place to play.”
Jason Chan, President of the Residents Association of Kuala Ampang, shared, “With the refurbishment, the court now looks bright, vibrant, and more importantly, it serves as a safe space to attract more young talent in the Kuala Ampang neighbourhood and surrounding areas to engage in sports. We would like to thank Sun Life for their contribution towards this community project.”
