This International Women's Day Singapore 3x3 basketballer Tan Kang Yi shares about her journey as the first female pro 3x3 basketballer in Singapore
This is a feature article written by SportPlus.sg for Kallang Alive Sports Management. For more sports events, programmes and human stories of Singapore Sports Hub, visit the Singapore Sports Hub 'Here to Play' website.
"Take the shots that are meant for you, even if you're scared."
Tan Kang Yi couldn't have said it better. If there's anyone who embodies this mindset, it's the 23-year-old Team Singapore and Jumpshot Singapore 3x3 basketball player, who has taken just about every shot that mattered.
Having left her mark on the courts of Singapore Sports Hub and across the region, Tan is set to blaze a trail for aspiring basketballers in Singapore as the first female Singaporean basketball 3x3 player to turn pro.
The power forward, currently finishing her bachelor’s degree at National Technological University, will embark on her pursuit after she graduates in the middle of this year.
Celebrating strong women and historic milestones this International Women’s Day, the gleam in Tan’s eyes told of her shared excitement for the future and how far she’s come as she opened up about her proudest moments for Team Singapore so far.
“We were playing against the Malaysian national team and I scored the winning shot. It’s been more than a year but it really stuck with me, that’s one of my proudest moments,” she gushed.
“In a game of 3x3, a player has to be an all rounder. At that time, I had my own role at the back, but I was able to step out to do what I’m not really tasked to do. By taking that chance, I was able to give Singapore that win. That moment felt really important to me.”
First Women's Pro 3x3 Basketballer
Now, as the first from our shores to voyage into the world of a professional 3x3 athlete in the women’s game, she hopes more girls will experience that same magic. Her advice? Be unapologetic and relentless in chasing your goals.
“I’ll be looking to play internationally with overseas teams in Thailand and Japan. I want to play in their local leagues to get more exposure and play with a different type of system. And of course, grow individually as a player,” Tan shared of her aspirations as she looks to turn pro.
“In the long term, I’d like to venture further outside of Asia and play in higher level competitions with players of higher calibre and better build. It’s going to be fun.”
As a female athlete, Tan is, unfortunately, all too familiar with being stereotyped. While women’s basketball has seen significant growth, driven by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA)—both of which garner millions of views—the sport is still fighting giants in Singapore.
Growing the Community
With the FIBA 3x3 Asia Cup 2025 returning to Singapore Sports Hub in March after previous years of success, Tan believes that the tournament holds significance for growing the basketball community.
“Even if you're not into basketball and you happen to be walking along, you’ll be curious. You could be discovering a world you’ve never seen before. With the atmosphere, I’m pretty sure there will be kids who’ll get hooked on basketball after seeing a stage that big, and they’ll think, ‘Wow, I want to play for the national team one day,’” smiled the forward. “If you see our women’s national team play, I’m pretty sure the little girls out there will be inspired. I wish I had the opportunity to see these types of events when I was younger but I didn't because it wasn't a thing back then. It would have been very exciting for me to see as a kid.”
Equal Representation
Many women who grew up before the recent boom in women’s sports will share similar sentiments. But even without a female athlete to look up to as a child, Tan looks on in a child-like awe (now as an adult) at some of the players she’s shared the court with, emphasising the importance of female representation in the sport.
“The general stereotype is that men are better at playing sports in general but when you see higher level ladies play, we can achieve our standard of excellence too,” she shared.
“On global stages like the FIBA 3x3 Asia Cup, you see players with really strong builds and they’re really tall. They’re going to be sharp, fast and they can move elegantly on the court. It gives a sense of empowerment even to players like myself, what more to little girls who can dream bigger dreams?”
Fallin in Love
Kang Yi recalled her own moment at the FIBA 3x3 Asia Cup held at the OCBC Square in Singapore Sports Hub two years ago, where she fell deeper in love with the sport and playing for Singapore. “The set up was great because it’s one center court and you have the fans and cameras all around, so there’s a lot of attention on you. But sometimes when you play basketball, you just zone in. Personally, I zone in and usually, the surroundings don’t matter as much as there are things to focus on on the court,” described Tan.
“But when you make that shot and you hear the roar from the crowd accompanied by loud applause, it’s really a different feeling compared to when you play in local tournaments. Usually at local tournaments, you get hi-fives from your teammates at most but on stages like FIBA 3x3 Asia Cup, you have so many more people supporting you. There are eyes on you from all over the world too, which is exhilarating.”
With 3x3 being fast-paced and high stakes, chemistry within the team is undoubtedly a major factor contributing to a team’s success. Split-second decisions, sometimes all made with just a shared moment of looking into each other’s eyes. For Kang Yi, the sisterhood she’s shared with her teammates at both the national team and Jumpshot Singapore has been key in her career.
A Safe Space Tan highlights the safe space they have provided for her on and off the court and lifting her up whenever she feels inadequate. As a player with both the national team and one of Singapore’s leading basketball teams, Tan knows that she has to keep the fire burning within herself, in order to ignite it in the hearts of girls in Singapore.
“I think that’s something I’m working on, to know my worth as someone who can be a role model to someone, male or female. Showing them that what I’m doing now, it’s not impossible and it’s something they can actually achieve in the future,” she shared.
“That is why I emphasise the need to be relentless and unapologetic because if you really want something, you really just have to go for it. There’s a world of opportunity out there, so just go and do it.” #InternationalWomensDay #Basketball3x3 #FIBA3x3 #mySgSportsHub
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