'No one to pass the baton to': Sports retailer Champion Sports to hang up its boots after 53 years in business
After 53 years in business, long-time sports retailer Champion Sports at Peninsular Shopping Centre will soon close its doors, Tabla! reported.
Its proprietor Anil Sachdeva, 71, plans to retire at the end of the year - marking the end of a family enterprise that has spanned more than half a century.
"I've got no one to pass the baton to," he told Tabla!, adding that his two children are pursuing their own careers. With his wife's support, he is preparing to bow out gracefully.
One of Singapore's most recognisable sports retailers
For more than five decades, Champion Sports has weathered recessions, shifting trends, and the disruptions brought by Covid-19 - remaining one of Singapore's most recognisable names in sports retail.
Even today, loyal customers continue to visit the store, while its online presence brings in steady sales.
Lawyer Christopher Bridges, 62, a regular customer since his student days, told Tabla! that the staff were always "patient and helpful", even when he was a picky young buyer with limited pocket money.
Described as a "sports emporium", the store has long been a one-stop hub for athletes, students, and visiting tourists.
"We have had very good relationships with many local and foreign schools and clubs over the years," said Mr Anil .
Keeping up with the times
Champion Sports has kept pace with changing trends - from football and rugby boots to tennis and badminton rackets, as well as the latest running shoes.
Today, it also stocks gear for fast-growing sports such as pickleball and padel, alongside traditional items such as sepak takraw balls, carrom boards, and other hard-to-find equipment.
'Community spirit' that built a legacy
Mr Anil first joined his elder brother and late father, Ramnath Sachdeva, in the 1960s, selling sports goods out of a glass cupboard along North Bridge Road.
On some days, they would carry 20 cricket bats on their shoulders, trek to Clifford Pier, catch the ferry to Sentosa's naval base. There, a British captain would select two bats, leaving them to haul the rest back. Each bat weighed between 1.1kg and 1.4kg.
In 1972, his father founded Champion Sports along Bras Basah Road, guided by two principles: if an item was out of stock, staff would help customers find it elsewhere; and they would always remember each customer's favourite drink and welcome them with it.
Champion Sports also fostered a sense of camaraderie among its staff. "We have built a community spirit," said Mr Anil, who joined the business full-time after completing National Service in 1975.
Mr Ramnath then opened a branch at Peninsula Shopping Centre in 1980, later becoming its flagship store when Bras Basah Road underwent redevelopment.
Mr Anil said he will miss his regulars the most - many of whom he has known since childhood and now bring their own children to the store.
"Our staff and I are always happy to see familiar faces. It feels meaningful that we have been part of our customers' lives for two to three generations," he said.
As he prepares to close the store for good, Mr Anil reflected that the end of Champion Sports marks more than just a retirement, it's the closing of a cherished chapter in Singapore's sporting history.
He added: "Don't they say in the sporting world that a champion should retire when he's at the top of his game?"
