Feng Tianwei, a decorated former table tennis national athlete, is spearheading an initiative to introduce Singaporean preschoolers to the sport at an earlier age. The 40-year-old Olympian, who began playing table tennis at age five in Harbin, China, aims to replicate the early start that propelled her to world No. 5 ranking and multiple international medals, including Olympic podium finishes and a world championship team gold.
In April, Feng established the Feng Tianwei International Table Tennis Academy (FTTA) to nurture young talent and foster a lifelong passion for table tennis. The academy recently entered a two-year partnership with Preschool Market, an educational consultancy and social enterprise focused on early childhood development, to launch a programme called Little Paddles, Big Potential.
The programme is designed to offer structured sports training to preschoolers, beginning with a pilot group of 35 children from New Life Preschools. These children will attend three 90-minute familiarisation sessions at FTTA’s headquarters at The Sports Arena @ Jalan Kayu. The sessions aim to expose young children aged three to six to the sport and assess their interest and aptitude for table tennis.
Feng noted that the academy provides progressive courses tailored for different age groups, from five to 14 years old, to cater to varying skill levels. For children who demonstrate potential and whose parents wish to further their development, FTTA offers a curated curriculum to support ongoing training.
Preschool Market founder Cheong Sufen expressed intentions to expand the partnership beyond table tennis, encompassing sports such as football, basketball, badminton, and swimming. The organisation aims to engage approximately 10,000 children over the next two years through this initiative. Cheong highlighted the collaboration’s focus on instilling sporting interest and core values in early childhood, leveraging Preschool Market’s extensive network of nearly 1,200 preschools under its ‘Start Small, Dream Big’ initiative.
The two organisations have committed a combined $10,000 in funding and in-kind contributions to support the pilot phase. Additional sponsorships are being sought to sustain and broaden the programme’s reach.
Looking ahead, Preschool Market plans to organise a nationwide mini-Olympiad for preschoolers in 2027, featuring three to five sports across individual and team events. Chief strategy officer David Loh described the competition structure, which will involve zonal contests culminating in a grand finale. He anticipates that the event will engage not only preschool participants but also their families, fostering a wider community enthusiasm for youth sports.