Singapore Badminton Stadium to reopen in Guillemard on Aug 9

SINGAPORE – Singapore badminton will celebrate its homecoming on Aug 9, when the sport returns to the facility at Guillemard Road – where legends like Wong Peng Soon smashed their way to stardom.

Formerly known as the Singapore Badminton Stadium, the venue will be renamed the KFF Badminton Arena after its opening on National Day.

Costing around $5 million to refurbish, the state-of-the-art community hub has 12 badminton courts which will be available for public and corporate bookings, fitness and wellness facilities, as well as food and beverage options.

Nine courts will be in the 1,300-seater hall at 100 Guillemard Road, which will retain the name Singapore Badminton Stadium, while three more premium air-conditioned courts with corporate boxes are located at 102 Guillemard Road. Its courts will also have maplewood flooring and anti-glare lights to enhance playing experience.

SBA@Guillemard, a private subsidiary of the Singapore Badminton Association, has been set up to run the arena after it leased both buildings on a 3+3+3 year term from the Singapore Land Authority in September 2023.

The Karim Family Foundation (KFF) is the facility’s biggest benefactor as it extended its ongoing support of the Singapore Badminton Association with a commitment of $2.25 million. In 2023, the foundation donated $600,000 to fund the KFF-SBA Players’ Development Programme for three years.

Additionally, long-time partner JK Technology has also equipped the facility with cutting-edge technology worth about $3 million, such as pan-tilt-zoom cameras that autonomously track gameplay for training purposes.

At a press conference at the National Stadium on July 2, SBA chief executive officer Alan Ow said: “This homecoming signifies not only the revitalisation of a physical structure, but a reaffirmation of the spirit that unites us in our shared passion for the game.

“The premise acts as a catalyst for spreading the love of the sport among Singaporeans. By investing in our badminton infrastructure, we not only elevate the sport’s prominence but also nurture a sense of unity and belonging among all those who share a common passion for badminton in Singapore.”

Ow shared that while the KFF Badminton Arena has not met certain requirements for Badminton World Federation World Tour events just yet, it can host junior as well as lower-tier International Challenge and International Series event. These will complement the KFF Singapore Badminton Open at the Singapore Indoor Stadium.

The senior national players will continue to train at the OCBC Arena as their sports science, psychology, strength and conditioning support are based at the Singapore Sport Institute at the Singapore Sports Hub. The national youth players will continue to train at the Singapore Sports School and both teams may use the KFF Badminton Arena if their main venues are not available.

The SBA will also continue to expand its community initiatives to nurture local talent by housing its Badminton Promotion Centre (BPC) at the KFF Badminton Arena. These include the Young Shuttlers Programme aimed at introducing 3,000 to 5,000 boys and girls annually to the sport.

Singapore badminton is not the only sport to make the move into the commercial space. In 2015, the Singapore Bowling Federation opened a $3.5 million, 38-lane centre at Temasek Club that is managed by its commercial subsidiary.

KFF principal Cindy Karim hopes that the new badminton arena will remain “a beacon of excellence and a place where dreams come true”.

She said: “The significance of this venue and its profound impact on the badminton community in Singapore holds a special place in our hearts. Our ultimate goal is to inspire more individuals to discover and excel in badminton, potentially making a mark on the global stage.”

JK Technology executive director Eugene Ang added: “Our goal is to transform Singapore’s historic badminton venue into its most modern, smart stadium. We are not only future-proofing the courts but also setting new standards for sporting facilities in Singapore.”

SINGAPORE BADMINTON STADIUM THROUGH THE YEARS

1951-1952: In 1951, the Singapore Badminton Association (SBA) requests from the government a piece of land at Guillemard Road to build a suitable indoor hall to host the 2nd Thomas Cup.

With an eventual bill of $800,000 and a 99-year lease, the Singapore Badminton Stadium is completed in May 1952, but it is not ready for the event at the end of the month. The tournament is eventually held at the Selangor Badminton Association Hall in Kuala Lumpur and Singapore’s Happy World Stadium.

1955-1958: The 3rd Thomas Cup is held at the Singapore Badminton Stadium for the first time, as the Malayan team, powered by Singapore legend Wong Peng Soon, win their third consecutive title by beating Denmark 8-1 in 1955. The fifth edition of the world men’s team championship returns in 1958.

1959-1962: The arena hosts key political events such as the 1959 People’s Action Party’s general election victory rally and the 1962 Malaya-Singapore merger referendum vote-counting.

1965: British rock group Rolling Stones literally brings the house down as a wall erected for the concert collapses.

1978: The SBA surrenders the hall to the Singapore Sports Council (SSC), which assumes its debts. The latter takes over its management on a 30-year lease from the Land Office (now Singapore Land Authority).

1983-1993: The South-east Asian Games badminton tournament is held here as men’s singles player Wong Shoon Keat wins Singapore’s first SEA Games gold in the sport. It also hosts the 1993 SEA Games badminton competition.

1999: It is declared a historical site by the National Heritage Board.

2008: The SSC’s 30-year lease on the facility ends, and the site is taken over by a restaurant and prawn-fishing facility.

2011: The next tenants include a rock-climbing facility, childcare centre, spa, tuition centre and offices.

2021: The climbing gym closes as the SLA takes back the space.

2023-2024: The SBA leases buildings on 100 and 102 Guillemard Road on a 3+3+3 year term from the SLA in September 2023. The venue is renamed the KFF Badminton Arena and will open on Aug 9, 2024.