There is something special about sport when it brings people together — not just to compete, but to connect, have fun and make a difference.

That spirit was on full display at the Deloitte Pesta Sukan 2026, which returned this August for its biggest edition yet. Netball Singapore’s flagship annual community tournament welcomed a record 180 teams across nine categories, bringing together more than 2,200 players and volunteers over three weekends on 1, 22 and 29 August.

With participation continuing to grow, the tournament has become more than a fixture on Singapore’s sporting calendar. It is a celebration of community, inclusivity and the enduring appeal of team sport.

This year’s tournament introduced the People’s Association Community Championships as a standalone category for the first time. The new division gave community teams their own platform to compete, while strengthening grassroots participation and creating more opportunities for people to come together through sport.

Across the different categories, the tournament welcomed players of varying ages and abilities — reflecting the continued growth of netball in Singapore and the increasingly diverse community surrounding the sport.

Competition was fierce, with a total of S$6,400 in cash prizes awarded to the top three teams in the Mixed Open, Women’s Open, Women’s 23&U and Corporate Mixed Open categories. Meanwhile, the top three finishers in the Women Social, Schools/Clubs and Community Championships divisions took home medals. But while there was plenty to play for on court, the tournament’s impact extended well beyond the final whistle.

For the 2026 edition, Deloitte Pesta Sukan partnered with SHINE Children and Youth Services, a local charity supporting children and young people through social work, mental health and educational psychology services.

A quarter of tournament registration fees went towards grovve, an integrated youth wellness centre where SHINE serves as the backbone partner. Designed as a safe and accessible space for young people, grovve aims to help them strengthen their mental wellbeing, connect with others and access support when they need it.

The partnership brought an additional dimension to this year’s tournament: every game, every team and every participant was contributing towards something beyond sport.

The biggest crowd-pleaser came in the form of a charity exhibition match, where Deloitte pledged S$500 for every goal scored. The match brought together Deloitte employees and senior management, Netball Singapore leadership, SHINE representatives and an eclectic line-up of guest players. Among them were Acting Minister for Manpower Jasmin Lau, former Team Singapore footballers Lionel Lewis and Aleksandar Duric, actress and model Shine Koh, and musician RRILEY.

They were joined on court by BBC Chief Presenter Steve Lai, SHINE representatives Eric Sng, Vincent Wang and Francis Goh, Netball Singapore President Trina Liang, Deloitte leaders and former Team Singapore netballers.

The result was a spirited 25-goal matchm translating into S$12,500 from Deloitte’s goal pledge. Together with contributions from participants, the total amount raised reached an impressive S$25,000 in support of SHINE’s work to uplift underserved communities.

More than a tournament

The success of Deloitte Pesta Sukan 2026 reflects how sport can serve as a powerful meeting point for different communities. From corporate teams and schools to clubs and grassroots groups, the tournament creates a space where people can compete alongside one another while building connections off the court.

It also speaks to the wider momentum behind netball in Singapore. With the sport continuing to expand across schools, clubs and community programmes, events such as Pesta Sukan offer players of different ages and experience levels an opportunity to stay active, find their team and simply enjoy the game.

And this year, there was an added reason to step onto the court.

With 180 teams, thousands of participants and volunteers, and S$25,000 raised for youth wellbeing, Deloitte Pesta Sukan 2026 proved that a sporting event can leave an impact long after the final whistle.

Because sometimes, the biggest win isn’t the trophy — it’s knowing that the game helped someone else find a little more support, connection and hope.