Ahead of next month's WTA Finals at the Singapore Sports Hub, presenting sponsor SC Global launched their Tennis for Every Child programme at the Ministry of Education's Evans Road complex on Wednesday.

For the first time, about 10,000 primary school pupils from 14 schools will be given the necessary equipment and training to play an introductory form of the game called modified tennis, using smaller rackets and lighter balls on a smaller court area with lower nets.

The five-year programme is a collaboration between the homegrown luxury property developer and the Singapore Tennis Association worth almost $500,000.

Modified tennis caters to children between the age of six and 12.

The sport will be offered at Anderson Primary School, Bedok West Primary School, Concord Primary School, Da Qiao Primary School, Dazhong Primary School, Fernvale Primary School, Innova Primary School, Lianhua Primary School, Palm View Primary School, Si Ling Primary School, Tampines North Primary School, Woodlands Primary School, Fengshan Primary School and Yu Neng Primary School.

The equipment will be given to the schools by sports manufacturer Wilson, while physical education (PE) teachers from the schools attended an International Tennis Federation workshop in Singapore in July to learn how to introduce pupils to the sport.

Four of the 14 schools - Innova, Lianhua, Siling and Woodlands - will also offer modified tennis as a co-curricular activity (CCA) option.

"By initiating this community programme, we hope not only to make an exciting impact on the learning journey by children in Singapore, but also to create a lasting legacy for the sport in Singapore after the WTA Finals concludes here in five years," said SC Global's chief executive officer Simon Cheong.

Local food and beverage chain BreadTalk will also be providing financial support of an undisclosed sum, as well as raise awareness for the programme by selling a special tennis-themed bun at their bakeries next month.