{
  "id": 839100,
  "title": "Singapore’s first rooftop batting cage opens at SAFRA Tampines",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/14/singapores-first-rooftop-batting-cage-opens-at-safra-tampines",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-08-14T04:55:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Straits Times",
    "slug": "straits-times",
    "url": "https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/singapores-first-rooftop-batting-cage-opens-at-safra-tampines"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Singapore's first rooftop batting cage, iBat by Urbanytes, has opened at SAFRA Tampines, offering automated lanes for baseball and softball enthusiasts. Located next to the tennis and pickleball facilities, the open-air facility caters to first-time and experienced players. iBat founder Julien Wong expressed her hope that the opening would encourage more people to try the sport, noting that if a first visit leads to a lifelong interest, the goal has been achieved. Plans are underway to introduce training and coaching programs for children aged 12 and below.\n\nThe opening of iBat has been welcomed by the Singapore Baseball and Softball Association, with secretary-general Tan Chia Mien highlighting the growing appreciation for the sports and the need for more venues to accommodate the busy competition schedule. Seow Chin Keong, founder and head coach of Little Sluggers Academy, noted the challenges in developing dedicated facilities for baseball and softball locally, emphasizing that iBat is a significant step forward in providing an accessible and enjoyable environment for players to hone their skills.",
  "summary": "iBat is opened daily from 10am to 10pm, and participants must be aged 13 years and above.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}