A trusted name among generations of sports lovers is nearing the end of its journey.
After more than five decades in business, Champion Sports could close its doors by the end of 2025.
Proprietor Anil Sachdeva, 71, is on track to retire at the end of this year, bringing an end to a remarkable family enterprise.
“I’ve got no one to pass the baton to,” he says with characteristic sporting flair. His two children are pursuing their own careers. With his wife’s support, he is preparing to bow out gracefully.
For more than half a century, Champion Sports has weathered recessions, shifting economies, the rise of e-commerce, and even the disruptions of Covid-19.
Yet, it remained resilient, retaining its status as one of Singapore’s most recognisable sports retailers.
Even today, customers flock to its Peninsula Shopping Centre outlet, while its growing online presence brings in steady sales.
Lawyer Christopher Bridges, 62, a regular since his schoolboy days at Saint Joseph’s Institution from 1975 to 1979, recalled: “As students with limited pocket money, we were very demanding when it came to buying our football boots and other gear. Yet the staff remained patient and helpful.”
To call the current outlet a shop is to sell it short. It is a sports emporium, a one-stop hub for athletes, students, and even visiting tourists.
Mr Anil said: “We have had very good relationships with many local and foreign schools and clubs over the years.”
From football and rugby boots, and tennis and badminton rackets, to the latest running shoes, the store has kept pace with trends.
Today, it even carries gear for pickleball and padel, two of the fastest-growing racket sports in the world.
Uniquely, it also stocks sepak takraw balls, carrom boards, and other hard-to-find sporting items – ensuring it remains relevant to both mainstream and niche athletes.
The story began in 1948 when Mr Anil’s father, the late Ramnath Sachdeva, arrived in Singapore from Punjab.
He joined his elder brother selling sports goods out of nothing more than a glass cupboard along North Bridge Road.
Business was tough then. On some days, he would carry 20 cricket bats on his shoulders, trekking all the way to Clifford Pier, catching the ferry to Sentosa, and trudging across the island to the naval base.
There, a British captain would select just two bats, leaving him to haul the rest back.
A standard cricket bat would weigh between 1.1kg and 1.4kg, so lugging that many bats was no easy task.
In 1972, Mr Ramnath struck out on his own and founded Champion Sports along Bras Basah Road. The street was then famous for its sports outlets and bookshops.
What set Champion Sports apart was the way it treated its customers. There were two guiding principles.
The first was: If an item is not in stock, staff should ring the other stores to try to get it, since a satisfied customer is a lifelong customer.
Mr Ramnath’s second business principle was: “Always remember your customer’s favourite beverage. Welcome them with it and make them feel special.”
Champion Sports also fostered a sense of camaraderie among its staff members.
“Many customers also know our staff on a personal level and share a connection. We have built a community spirit at Champion Sports,” Mr Anil noted.
Mr Anil himself grew up in the business. After completing National Service in 1975, he joined full-time, absorbing the ethos of hard work, humility, and service.
In 1980, Mr Ramnath set up a branch on the ground level at Peninsula Shopping Centre. He later consolidated operations in larger premises on the fourth level as Bras Basah Road underwent redevelopment.
More than anything, Mr Anil said it’s the customers he’ll miss most. There are many he’s known since they were children, and now they bring in kids of their own to shop at Champion Sports.
“Our staff and I are always happy to see familiar faces. It feels meaningful that we have been a part of our customers’ lives for two to three generations,” he said.
As he prepares to pack it in, Mr Anil reflected: “Don’t they say in the sporting world that a champion should retire when he’s at the top of his game?”
Regardless of the answer, the impending closure of Champion Sports marks the end of a prominent chapter in Singapore’s sporting heritage.
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15 Oct 2025 11:25
