Pickleball for Seniors: Staying Active in Singapore

In Singapore, a growing number of older adults are playing pickleball, a sport that mixes tennis, badminton, and ping-pong. Some players are in their 60s, 70s, and even 80s. Recently, several seniors competed in a major tournament called the Leapmotor Singapore Open. Their stories show how the sport is helping older people stay healthy, make friends, and feel proud of themselves.

Shirly Tan, 62, is a retiree who started playing pickleball after the Covid-19 pandemic. Her husband Titus Toh, 66, was the one who introduced her to the sport. But after he was diagnosed with a serious lung condition, he could no longer play, and Tan became his full-time caregiver. She thought her dream of playing in a big tournament would never come true.

Then, her friend Brenda Lwa asked her to be a doubles partner at the Leapmotor Singapore Open in late July. Tan said yes, even though her husband was not sure they were ready. She explained that since the tournament was right there in Singapore, she did not need to travel abroad to chase her dream. Holding back tears, she said it meant the world to her to finally play in such a big competition.

Lwa, 66, had picked up pickleball in 2023 after her goddaughter taught her the game. The two friends had met through the ActiveSG Jurong West pickleball programme for seniors. They used to play against each other and often went out for meals with their group after matches. When they competed together, their teamwork was strong, and they nearly won third place — even though Lwa had hurt her leg before the tournament.

Retired banker Liew Kim Fui, 70, also played in the 50-plus category. He used to be a tennis player, but had to stop when his knees became painful. After Covid, he discovered pickleball and loved how the small court made the game easier on his body. Now he encourages his wife and others to play, saying the sport is great for both health and socialising.

All three players are part of a larger movement. Singapore now has over 5,000 active pickleball players. The annual Pesta Sukan competition in 2025 attracted more than 2,000 players, according to the Singapore Pickleball Association. The sport is clearly catching on fast among people of all ages.

A local bank called OCBC has also stepped in to help more seniors get involved. It recently launched a two-year partnership with Care Corner Seniors Services, a group that supports elderly people who may feel lonely or left out. Under this programme, 100 seniors will receive free pickleball training over two years. Fifty seniors join each year for a four-month course of 10 sessions.

One of the new learners is Ho Soo Hock, 74. He first noticed people playing pickleball at a community centre in Toa Payoh and was curious to try it. He used to play table tennis but had not played any sport regularly in a while. Now he looks forward to his training sessions and says he loves learning new things.

The training sessions started on July 7 and will end with a sports day on November 11. Up to 10 seniors from the group may also be chosen to compete in the novice category of the OCBC-Great Eastern Pickleball Open, running from October 23 to 25. That tournament already has three other categories, and the novice spots sold out quickly after registration opened on July 27.

Tong Shui Chong, 83, is one of the seniors in the programme. He trains in Marsiling and says he was never very active in sports before. He likes that pickleball is a gentle game where the goal is simply to stay active and have fun — not to be the best. When asked if he would compete in the tournament if chosen, the former polytechnic lecturer laughed and said: 'If I'm up to the standard to be picked, I'm game!'