Expanding its business portfolio with the launch of "Talent Sport Academy" at The Walk Ratchapruek, the company aims to establish a premier sports destination in Western Bangkok.
Capitalizing on the Wellness Economy's 7.6% annual growth, the company partners with leading national-level professional coaches to strengthen its new business venture.
Index Living Mall Public Company Limited (ILM) is moving full speed ahead with its diversification into new business areas by investing approximately 80-100 million baht to launch the “Talent Sport Academy” at The Walk Ratchaphruek. The new sports complex will incorporate three trending sports – tennis, pickleball, and basketball – into one location, while teaming up with top-tier professional coaches to offer training classes for all ages and skill levels. This latest business direction firmly aligns with the burgeoning sports & wellness mega-trend, transforming The Walk Ratchaphruek into a comprehensive lifestyle destination for families in western Bangkok area while also attracting new tenants in the lifestyle and health sectors. The new “Talent Sport Academy” is positioned as a business with high potential to capitalize on wellness economy which is growing at an average of 7.6 percent annually, with the aim to become Thailand’s model multi-sport academy. A plan has been put in place to expand by an average of 1-2 branches annually, while the first Ratchaphruek branch is targeted to earn an annual revenue of 15 million baht.
Mr. Ekalak Patamasatayasonthi, Chief Property Management Officer, Index Living Mall Public Company Limited and top executive overseeing The Walk, Little Walk, and Talent Sport Academy projects, announced that Index Living Mall has established a sustainable growth strategy under the banner “Index Nextperience & Beyond + Sustainable Future” business direction, building upon the diversification approach to venture into new businesses, thereby spreading out revenue streams and reducing reliance solely on the original core business. Most recently, the Company launched “Talent Sport Academy”, a comprehensive indoor sports facility at The Walk Ratchaphruek shopping center with an investment of approximately 80–100 million baht. This new project, under the “Play Together, Grow Together” concept, reflects an evolution in brand positioning, shifting from a brand that makes a “home” livable to one that helps to improve the health and well-being of the “people within the home”. This new direction aims to elevate lifestyle toward “better living” in alignment with the mega-trends involving sports, wellness, preventive healthcare, and longevity. More significantly, the Company aims to establish this new facility as the premier sports destination for western Bangkok, serving as the most comprehensive center for sports, education, and skill development for children and families in the Ratchaphruek area of Nonthaburi Province.
The launch of the new “Talent Sport Academy” creates synergy with the core business, strengthening and diversifying the operational portfolio. It reinforces The Walk’s position as the family destination that caters to every family lifestyle, spanning shopping, dining, and physical activities, in addition to various other proclivities. Furthermore, the “Talent Sport Academy” will serve to bolster the Education Center zone, which accounts for over 30 percent of the retail space at The Walk Ratchaphruek, thereby further emphasizing the integrated family lifestyle ecosystem.
The center serves as a hub for a supermarket, restaurants, children’s skill-development institutions, and lifestyle retails, all supported by a loyal customer base. Thus, the launch of the “Talent Sport Academy” maximizes the efficiency of space utilization and opens opportunities to attract new tenants, such as lifestyle brands, apparel retailers, sports equipment stores, and health-focused food and beverage outlets, while expanding the customer base to include those who are committed to sports and wellness. The Company aims to expand branches of the “Talent Sport Academy” by an average of 1-2 branches annually within “The Walk” or “Little Walk” projects, first concentrating on high-potential locations with consistent foot traffic. Two additional branches are scheduled to open in 2027 – at Little Walk Liap Khlong Song and Little Walk Phran Nok.
- Establishing “Talent Sport Academy” on a prime location perfectly suited for modern living.
ILM is investing 80–100 million baht to launch the “Talent Sport Academy” at The Walk Ratchaphruek, with the aim to elevate sports and wellness lifestyles. The facility features three types of sports currently gaining popularity – tennis, pickleball, and basketball – targeting the “premium mass (B-tier)” segment. This location aligns with the Ratchaphruek area’s demographic of high-end families and high future growth potential. It is a highly developed district characterized by a high density of homes priced between 7–15 million baht and a population with strong purchasing power. The area is also populated with international schools, elite educational institutions, and extensive amenities with excellent connectivity linking Bangkok to Nonthaburi and Pathum Thani provinces. The Company is convinced that this is the ideal site for a sports academy, offering the potential to evolve into a regional sports destination in the future.
The “Talent Sport Academy” at The Walk Ratchaphruek is seizing the opportunity to evolve into a “family lifestyle & sports ecosystem” – a venue for the whole family that connects lifestyle across generations and promotes better living. Designed to international standards, the sports facility features the “Red Fox” logo which is the branch’s signature mascot – symbolizing agility, intelligence, adaptability, and a constant readiness to learn. The complex covers approximately 7,000 square meters across two main buildings: Building A houses four international-standard tennis courts and two pickleball courts, while Building B features two standard basketball courts, a pro shop offering merchandise from leading sports equipment brands, and a health beverage café. Customers will enjoy a seamless digital booking experience via LINE OA that will allow for real-time court reservations, coach selection, class enrollment, and online payments – all within a single, convenient system. The academy also partners with world-class brands, such as “Babolat” (the renowned French tennis and badminton brand), among others.
- Teaming up with professional coaches and offering customizable training programs
Mr. Akkasit “Coach Pum” Tepkasikul, Head Tennis Coach at “Talent Sport Academy” and a former national and youth team coaches, elaborated on this collaboration: A team of more than 20 professional coaches is in place and is ready to share techniques and first-hand, national-level experience with tennis playing clients. Training regime ranges from laying down fundamental skills to developing the potential required to become a professional athlete. Courts at the “Talent Sport Academy” have been constructed to meet world-class standards set by the International Tennis Federation (ITF). The facility stands out for its meticulous attention to details, from structural integrity to dimensions, and environment, while the specialized court surface has been designed for maximum safety and impact absorption. More significantly, a variety of training regimes are available, such as: Private coaching with one-on-one instruction for in-depth, targeted skill development; Group classes for skill enhancement along with the fostering of friendships and sports discipline; Academy programs for systematic development pathways for aspiring professional athletes; School break camps/clinics which are camps designed to boost skills and foster positive development; and, Tournament programs which are competitive events that serve as a platform to measure the true potential of participants.
Dr. Netsai Chanchomphoo, Head Basketball Coach and a former national youth team player, added that the “Talent Sport Academy” features International Basketball Federation (FIBA)-standard basketball courts and offers professional coaching from both Thai and international experts. The academy is determined to foster experiences and to inspire young generation of athletes, and to build physical and mental foundations for children ranging from beginner to advanced levels, to pave the way for possible professional careers. Dr. Netsai said she believed that every Thai youth possesses the potential, but this potential alone is insufficient without the proper facility fully equipped to support their dreams. Also important is that the academy has been incorporated into the community mall, which helps to create a lifestyle hub that caters to those indulging in physical activities while also offering a space where parents can comfortably spend their time feeling confident as their children train with professional coaches.
- The longevity trend positions physical activities as a long-term investment.
Mr. Ekalak further emphasized that ILM recognizes the growth potential of the Sport & Wellness sector, which has emerged as a key economic driver. This is reflected in the global wellness economy, projected to reach US$7.9 trillion by 2026 – growing at an average annual rate of 7.6 percent over the previous three years and accounting for 6.1 percent of global GDP. Thai consumer behavior has also mirrored this trend, with more people regularly engaging in physical activities and opting for paid fitness services. Consequently, Thailand’s fitness industry revenue has exceeded 12 billion baht in 2025, an 18 percent increase, with over 80 percent of the market concentrated in Bangkok Metropolis, an area with high purchasing power. Furthermore, data indicated that more than 76 percent of deaths are caused by non-communicable diseases (NCDs) linked to lifestyle choices. This has resulted in preventive healthcare becoming a primary driver of household health spending, underlining the trend towards sports and wellness becoming family investments – expenditures that consumers are least likely to cut, even during economic volatility.
“Talent Sport Academy’s entry as a key anchor for The Walk represents more than just an expansion of the range for sports facilities. It is more about creating a space that integrates sports, lifestyle, and learning to foster sustainable growth together with families. We aim to establish this facility as Thailand’s model multi-sport academy, with plans for future expansions, using the Ratchaphruek branch as the blueprint for future business growth. Simultaneously, we are optimizing rental space management, targeting annual revenue of 15 million baht for the Ratchaphruek branch and a payback period of seven years. This initiative is expected to significantly boost foot traffic at the community mall, maximize the efficiency of rental space utilization, and enhance the project’s overall value, thereby driving our long-term growth” Mr. Ekalak concluded.
