About Us

About Us – Sam’s Indoor Sports Centre

Formerly known as Sams Badminton Arena (SBA), our journey began in August 2020 in Brisbane, Australia, to commemorate and honour the life and legacy of Rev. Dr. P. K. Sam. 

We started with an 800-square-metre indoor sports hub featuring six professional badminton courts. From the beginning, our vision was bigger than business — we set out to promote badminton in the community, provide outstanding facilities, and create a welcoming space for both members and casual players.

Our founder, Mr. Stephen Koshy, is a qualified Physical Education Teacher with a Master’s and M.Phil in Physical Education, and an accredited coach with Badminton Australia. With over 21 years of coaching and sports management experience, Stephen built the arena to train talented players and prepare them for major tournaments.

Before opening SBA, Stephen spent five years hiring school halls to train more than 40 students aged 7–18 every weekend with the support of few other coaches, uniting young athletes from diverse communities. His two sons, Ephraim and Emmanuel (aged 15 and 13 in 2020), represented Queensland at the Under-15 Nationals in both 2018 and 2019. Limited access to courts in Brisbane’s north meant long drives south for training — a challenge that inspired Stephen to create a local, high-quality sports facility for all.

Our Growth – 2020 to 2025

By God’s grace and the strong support of our community, August 2025 marks two major milestones:

1. Our expansion into a multi-sport facility
2. Our name changes from Sam’s Badminton Arena to Sam’s Indoor Sports Centre — reflecting our growth beyond badminton into a full indoor sports and recreation hub.

Our upgraded facility now offers:

• 12 professional badminton courts
• 14 pickleball courts
• 1 cricket court
• 1 soccer court
• 1 volleyball court
• 1 netball court
• Pool tables & table tennis
• Kids’ play zone
• Hall hire for 100+ guests — perfect for birthday parties, corporate functions, and community events

Our Champions

• Ephraim – In 2024, became the National Runner-up in Men’s Singles and earned selection to the Australian Senior National Team, representing Australia in various international tournaments.
• Emmanuel – Won National Champion titles in Singles and Doubles at the 2023 Under-17 Nationals, and another National Champion title in Singles at the 2024 Under-19 Nationals. Selected to the Australian Junior National Team, he represented Australia at the World Junior Championships in China (2024).

Training Programs & Community Support

Today, Sam’s Indoor Sports Centre runs regular weekly training programs for both young kids and adults, helping players of all levels reach their goals. Our coaching team works alongside the Queensland Badminton Association, Brisbane Badminton Association, and Badminton Australia to develop talent, promote healthy lifestyles, and grow the sport locally.

About Rev. Dr. P. K. Sam

Rev. Dr. P. K. Sam
Rev. Dr. P. K. Sam, born on May 7th, 1930, was a well-known evangelist, singer, poet, composer, and author. He was especially noted for the love and warmth he showed towards the poor and for his charitable works, which included giving land and houses to those in need. He graduated from Malone College in Ohio with a B.A. in Religion, a minor in Psychology, and an M.A. in Sociology from Tennessee University.

Whilst working as an Assistant Dean and Pastor at Malone College, he felt God's calling to return to India to minister among his own people. He went on to found Bible Christian Church (B.C.C.), which grew to 16 churches, started a Bible College, built a hospital for the needy, and ministered in hospitals, colleges, schools, and jails. He authored several books, began a radio ministry, and composed over 350 songs. People loved his dynamic, insightful, and bold preaching style—especially when he used humorous stories—while always emphasising the importance of a personal relationship with God.

He served as the Y.M.C.A president and received many awards for his charitable work, commitment, and excellence. When he passed away on November 23rd, 2017, he had completed 46 years of Pastoral ministry, leaving behind a lasting legacy of love, inspiration, and a life that brought thousands to Christ.

A Legacy Cherished at Sam’s Indoor Sports Centre

Our sports centre was named “Sam’s” to cherish and honour Rev. Dr. P. K. Sam—not only for his great ministry, but also for the personal impact he had on Stephen’s life. Rev. Dr. P. K. Sam encouraged and supported Stephen from his primary school days through high school and college to participate in sports, which inspired Stephen to choose Physical Education as his career. This foundation ultimately helped him start a sports centre like this in Brisbane. Rev. Dr. P. K. Sam’s encouragement also extended to supporting Stephen’s journey to Australia with his family, making the dream of establishing this centre possible.