DATAMETRICS Research and Information Centre (DARE), an integrated prospectus solutions company, brought together members of Malaysia’s investment and capital market community in a different setting recently.
This is by hosting its inaugural pickleball tournament aimed at promoting healthy living while strengthening relationships across the industry instead of ushering them to a boardroom.
The tournament attracted more than 50 participants and supporters with 16 open-gender doubles teams competing for honours.
Participants represented a cross-section of the capital market ecosystem, including investment bankers, corporate finance practitioners, fund managers, lawyers, sponsors and other industry stakeholders.
GUtC, represented by Ivan Lee and Suzanne Ong, emerged tournament, while Apex Securities Bhd, represented by Eric Chong and Toh Jen Shen, finished second. Baker Tilly Malaysia, represented by Pua Tze Han and Samuel Lau Lik Siong, took third place.
“The tournament reflected our organisation’s desire to engage the investment community beyond its traditional professional and business environment,” enthused DARE’s managing director Pankaj Kumar.
“The investment and capital markets are demanding industries where professionals often work long hours and operate under considerable pressure. Through this tournament, we wanted to encourage our industry colleagues to make health, fitness and personal well-being an equally important priority.”
According to Pankaj, pickleball was an ideal choice of sports because “it is accessible, highly social and competitive at the same time”.
Health is wealth
“More importantly, it provided an opportunity for people from different segments of the investment community to interact and build relationships in a relaxed environment outside the usual boardroom, conference or corporate setting,” he added.
The tournament was sponsored by CTH Unlimited, a sports and activewear brand under Cheetah; Dinky, a pickleball lifestyle brand and GUtC, a prebiotic soda brand produced by The Tapping Tapir. The event was also supported by Acendus Communications Sdn Bhd and Esente Advisory Sdn Bhd.
Winners received trophies, Dinky pickleball bags and cash vouchers with the total value of prizes amounting to RM5,000.
DARE has always believed that a strong investment community is built not only through information, research and professional interaction but also through meaningful relationships between the people who make up the industry.
“We hope this inaugural tournament is the beginning of something we can grow in the years ahead by bringing an even broader section of the capital market community together while continuing to champion active and healthy lifestyles,” concluded Pankaj. – Aug 16, 2026
