Hoops + Health Festival empowers Malaysian youth through basketball

Around 150 Malaysian youths gathered for a day of basketball, teamwork and healthy competition at the Hoops + Health Community Basketball Festival 2026, as Sun Life Malaysia and Beyond Sport marked the third year of their collaboration to encourage healthier lifestyles and youth development through sport.

The festival featured a basketball clinic for children aged 12 and below alongside a 3×3 basketball tournament for participants aged 17 and below. Organisers said the event was designed to go beyond competition by encouraging young people to stay physically active, build confidence and strengthen social connections through community sport.

Community basketball programme continues expanding youth engagement

Hoops + Health was launched in 2023 as a regional youth empowerment initiative by Sun Life and global sport-for-development foundation Beyond Sport. Using basketball as a platform, the programme seeks to address increasing sedentary lifestyles among young people while promoting physical activity, teamwork and personal development. The initiative is currently implemented across six Asian markets: Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong, Indonesia, the Philippines and Vietnam.

In Malaysia, the programme began with the revitalisation of the Kuala Ampang community basketball court and has since expanded its reach through free six-month basketball and coaching programmes. Organisers said more than 400 youths and coaches have directly benefited from the initiative, while trained community coaches have helped extend activities to over 3,000 youths nationwide.

Sun Life Malaysia President and Country Head Ho Teck Seng said the programme has evolved into a long-term platform supporting youth wellbeing.

“Hoops + Health has grown into a sustained platform for youth wellbeing. Over the past three years, we have seen how regular access to sport helps young people stay active, build confidence and develop healthier habits. Together with our partners, we are proud of the progress made through this programme in creating meaningful opportunities for more youths across Malaysia to stay active and develop healthier habits,” he said.

Beyond Sport Executive Director Fred Fikouhi-Turner said addressing youth inactivity requires collective action from multiple stakeholders.

“Youth inactivity cannot be solved by a single organisation alone. Progress happens when businesses, community organisations and coaches work together with a shared purpose. Basketball provides a practical and inclusive platform to encourage more active lifestyles, confidence-building and life skills development among youth,” he said.

Partnerships strengthen community-based youth development

The programme is delivered with support from local partners including Jungle Cats Basketball Academy, Nicol David Organisation and USJ20 Basketball Club, which conduct basketball activities and youth engagement programmes within their communities.

Founder of Nicol David Organisation, Datuk Nicol David, described sport as a valuable tool for personal growth, saying it helps young people build resilience, self-belief and essential life skills that contribute to their overall wellbeing.

Jungle Cats Basketball Academy Head Coach Alvin Kwong said basketball provides many participants with more than just an opportunity to compete.

“For many of the youths, basketball becomes more than a sport. It gives them a positive routine, a sense of belonging and an opportunity to develop teamwork, discipline and perseverance,” he said.

Bryan Chieng of USJ20 Basketball Club added that structured community sports programmes help young people remain engaged while building positive relationships and values in supportive environments.

The programme also aligns with broader concerns over declining physical activity among Malaysian youths. According to Sun Life’s 2022 Active Healthy Kids Global Alliance report, fewer than 20% of Malaysian children and adolescents achieve the World Health Organization’s recommended minimum of 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity daily. Malaysia received a D- grade for overall physical activity, with lower participation particularly evident among urban and lower-income communities, while girls were found to be significantly less active than boys.

Across Asia, Sun Life has committed CAD1.5 million to the 2025–2026 Hoops + Health programme to support coach education, facility upgrades, programme delivery and community initiatives, with the goal of positively impacting 45,000 lives during the current programme cycle.