Sun Life Malaysia, a life insurance and family takaful provider, in collaboration with Beyond Sport, a global organization for social change through sports, unveiled the newly refurbished Kuala Ampang Basketball Court in Ampang, Kuala Lumpur, aiming to foster active lifestyles and bring joy to local youths.
The court project is part of the regional CAD $1 Million Hoops+Health programme by Sun Life and Beyond Sport, aimed at encouraging physical activity and promoting healthier lifestyles through basketball in Indonesia, the Philippines, Hong Kong, Malaysia, and Vietnam throughout 2024.
Local communities will benefit from revitalized basketball courts, workshops for coaches, and capacity-building programmes for young basketball players.
The official unveiling of the court was attended by Raymond Lew, CEO and President/Country Head of Sun Life Malaysia, Jason Chan, President of the Kuala Ampang Residents Association, representatives from Sun Life Asia and Beyond Sport, Sun Life Malaysia executives and employees, Kuala Ampang residents, and local basketball coaches and players.
At the ceremony, Raymond Lew emphasized that the initiative aligns with Sun Life’s business purpose of promoting healthier lives and demonstrates their commitment to fostering youth wellness through sports. He noted that creating an accessible and fun environment for local youths to maintain an active lifestyle will ultimately improve overall well-being and foster community building through the social sport of basketball.
The initiative responds to the 2022 Active Healthy Kids Global Alliance report, released by Sun Life Malaysia, Active Healthy Kids Global Alliance (AHKGA), and Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), which gave Malaysian children a D-grade rating for overall physical activity, highlighting the need to boost active youth lifestyles.
The comprehensive renovation of the court included 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 the community.
Additionally, the ASA Foundation, a regional education partner, will conduct a coach education workshop in June to help local youth coaches improve their skills in using basketball to promote physical health and well-being. Sun Life Malaysia will also sponsor a six-week free basketball session for youths under 18 at the court, targeting low-income communities to address barriers to sports participation.
“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.”
