Pesta Sukan - Celebrating Sport, Connecting Communities
Pesta Sukan remains an important part of our sporting calendar supporting talent development, encouraging participation, and contributing to a more inclusive and vibrant sports ecosystem. Its commitment to inclusion and innovation ensures that both traditional and emerging sports receive the recognition and support they deserve.
Today, the festival stands as a living chronicle, one where neighbourhood heroes become community athletes, and where sports like pickleball, pétanque, and ultimate disc are woven into the fabric of Singapore’s sporting story.
As our interests diversify and our sports scene expands, Pesta Sukan continues to honour the past while shaping the future, providing platforms, inspiring pride, and forging a more connected and active nation.
From Pesta Sukan Roots to National Recognition
Dating back to ancient times, archery became organised in Singapore with the 1964 Archery Club and was included in Pesta Sukan that same year. Notable stars emerged, including Sam Tan Pek Hoon, the country’s most-medaled SEA Games archer and Contessa Loh's 2022 SEA Games gold and Singapore's first team medal at the 2023 Asia Cup.
Archery has remained a pillar of Pesta Sukan since its early days. Competitions have been consistently held at venues like Bukit Gombak Stadium, and the “Little Olympics” format which welcomes schools, community clubs, and age-based categories (Youth, Open, Masters) helps train emerging archers
Bowling in Singapore: From Niche Hobby to National Sport
What started in the 1960s as a sport for a select few has become a cornerstone of Singapore’s sporting legacy. Bowling’s inclusion in Pesta Sukan from the outset (1964) helped embed it in the national consciousness. Over decades, passionate community programmes, world-class athletes, and institutional support have transformed bowling into a beloved and respected sport -melding grassroots engagement, international triumphs, and cultural resurgence under one unifying banner.
Bowling in Singapore grew from a niche pastime to a popular sport with the formation of the Singapore Tenpin Bowling Congress in 1963. Its popularity surged after the opening of public centers like Jackie’s Bowl in 1965. Bowling was included in the inaugural Pesta Sukan in 1964, helping boost its profile. Singapore's bowlers have earned 17 Sportsperson of the Year awards, highlighting the sport's consistency. Remy Ong's 2006 World Championship and Cherie Tan's 2019 World Bowling Athlete of the Year honor showcase our excellence. The tradition of elite performance continues with Darren Ong, who in March 2025 became the first Singaporean to win a PBA Tour title, capturing the prestigious Viper Championship in Reno, Nevada marked another milestone for Singapore bowling.
Golf - A Heritage of Prestige & Popularity
From its 1964 origins, Pesta Sukan has provided foundational competition and recognition for golf, reinforcing its status among burgeoning sports and inspiring generations to take up the game. Golf in Singapore traces its roots to the 1891 establishment of the Singapore Golf Club, where British colonists teed off under Japanese fireworks.
The sport gained mainstream popularity through pioneers like Mardan Mamat, Singapore's first Indian Open winner (2006), and current star Hiroshi Tai, the first Singaporean to compete in both the Masters and U.S. Open (2025). Shannon Tan made history in January 2024 by becoming the first Singaporean golfer to earn full playing rights on the Ladies European Tour (LET). This achievement came after she finished tied-9th at the LET Qualifying School in Spain, a milestone that solidified her status as one of Singapore's most promising young golf talents.
Golf in Singapore has evolved profoundly from elite era to a sport rooted in heritage and increasingly accessible through institutions like SGA and clubs such as Keppel and SICC. Its incorporation into Pesta Sukan marked a critical moment: transforming golf into a national asset. As land scarcity and exclusivity reshape the golf landscape, future efforts from public access initiatives to youth development, will be vital in preserving both heritage and opportunity for all who seek to hold a golf club upright and proud.
This August, Singapore’s sporting spirit meets heritage fairways as Pesta Sukan Golf takes place at the iconic Keppel Club on 2 August 2025. As part of the larger Pesta Sukan celebration, this event brings together seasoned golfers, emerging talents, and community participants for a day of camaraderie, competition, and national pride.
Singapore’s precision sports legacy is not just about records. It’s a tapestry of inclusion, heritage, and athletic progression. Whether drawing bowstrings at Bukit Gombak, rolling strikes at bowling alleys, or teeing off at heritage clubs, these athletes stand on the foundation set by Pesta Sukan. It’s a legacy that honors our past while continuing to inspire future champions and it all starts with that inaugural festival in December 1964.