When it comes to playing badminton in Singapore, most of us either head to the HDB open-air communal courts or book an indoor badminton court within various ActiveSG or SAFRA facilities. Bet you never imagined having a game within a fluorescent court, complete with glow-in-the-dark equipment. We give you: Shuttle In The Dark in KL, Malaysia.
The arena, housed within the swanky Petronas Twin Towers, is futuristic and trippy in the best ways possible. Its vibes are reminiscent of our very own spaceship-themed ARK11 nightclub in Orchard, and will make you forget that you’re clocking a full-on cardio session.
Note: The current exchange rate is RM1 = ~S$0.28 as of 24th July 2024.
Image credit: @shuttleinthedark via Instagram
The first of its kind in Malaysia, Shuttle In The Dark is a new twist on a beloved sport that all levels of fitness and experience can partake in. You’ll be playing in indoor, air-conditioned comfort. Not only that, the arena is decked out in Tron-esque, cyberpunk aesthetics with luminescent decor, electrical circuit motifs, and LED light projections.
Fret not about the surroundings being so dim that you can’t see the shuttlecock flying back and forth – it’ll be shining bright like a diamond.
Image credit: @shuttleinthedark via Instagram
You won’t have to actually take a shot in the dark, because the facility has custom-made fluorescent racquets and shuttlecocks. And yes, all equipment will be provided, so you don’t have to pack your own to go overseas.
Image credit: @shuttleinthedark via Instagram
Even though the aesthetic factor is strong, Shuttle In The Dark is serious about quality as well. The badminton hall uses a Badminton World Federation-certified tournament-grade net and rubber court mat, the same ones used in the Macau Open Championships. How’s that for getting a taste of being a pro athlete?
Image credit: @angera_koh via Instagram
You’ll obviously be snapping lots of pics and vids of the funky space, so here’s a tip: wear white to get maximum glow-in-the-dark effects. Or better yet, if you own any clothes which are neon or sport reflective detailing, this is their time to shine – literally.
On the topic of clothing, make sure to head there dressed in proper sports attire and shoes so you can have a safe and comfortable time.
How much does it cost to play badminton in the dark? It can get as low as RM20/pax, if you rally the squad and show up in a group of 8. This is because the badminton hall is charged by the hour, not the number of people, and a maximum of 8 pax are allowed per booking.
Shuttle In The Dark charges RM160/hour on weekdays, and RM180/hour on weekends and public holidays. Included in this price is a set of glow-in-the-dark shuttlecocks, and up to 4 racquets. This allows up to 2 teams of doubles to play at any given time, while the rest of the group gets comfy in the private badminton hall and spectates the action.
Image credit: Malaysia Travel
The strategic location of Shuttle In The Dark puts you right in the KL City Centre (KLCC). You’ll find the badminton hall within the Twin Towers Fitness Centre at Petronas Twin Towers. For us vacationing folk, this means we’ll get to eat and shop at surrounding hotspots like Suria KLCC and Pavilion KL before and after torching some calories.
To help you plan your itinerary, check out our list of new things to do in KL. We also have a guide on the best ways to get from Singapore to KL, so you can explore different modes of transport including flights, buses, and even road trips via JB.
Cover image adapted from: @fazry.ismail & @shuttleinthedark via Instagram
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