Rope
Skipping

Say Lee Lai Shan and most people would recognise Hong Kong’s only gold medalist at the 1996 Olympics – for windsurfing. Say Ko Lai Chak and Li Chiang and no doubt more than a few would remember the Olympic silver they won for table tennis. But say Skipperz and Hong Kongers to a man will look puzzled. Skipperz – who? Oh, only the world champions. In rope skipping.

In July, a team of young Hong Kong rope skippers won the junior male division of the world championships in Toronto, Canada. The team grabbed three gold and five silver medals in the total of eight events, including speed, style and relay contests.

Skipperz is made up of 11 to 16-year-olds who don’t seem particularly muscular, nor actually strong enough to suggest they are the new world skipping champions. Nevertheless, watch them perform and the reason for their success becomes obvious: Steven Chu, current holder of the Hong Kong record for 30-second and three-minute speed skipping, twirls the rope around his body in a blur, his capering feet striking the floor like little bolts of lightning. In team play he flips into handstands, cartwheels and other acrobatic tricks over and through the rope rhythmically swung by Tom Hui and Kazaf Yeung.

With the addition of break-beat music, teamwork and gymnastics, skipping has become not only a healthy and
trendy way to exercise, but also an entertainment. “About five years ago, no Hong Kong people knew or cared about rope skipping, but it has become more and more popular in these last few years,” says Watanabe Sadatosi (Sada), the director and performer of renowned Japanese rope-skipping team
Nawa Rangers.

Billy Cheng, senior coach at the Hong Kong Rope Skipping Institute who has more than 12 years of rope-skipping experience, has also seen the changes. “When I started skipping, people didn’t pay much attention to it. Even though there were skipping classes in my school, the purpose was to help the fat or unhealthy students keep fit. There was neither intensive training nor any skipping competitions in Hong Kong at that time.”

But in 1999, after the Hong Kong College of Cardiology and other organisations jointly promoted the programme ‘Jump Rope For Heart,’ skipping surged in popularity. The programme teaches students the basics of skipping to encourage them to take up regular exercise.
While we may like to think that with systematic and continuous training Hong Kong skippers will continue to shine on the world stage, the reality is not reassuring. “The government invests zero resources in skipping,” Cheng says. “And it is very difficult for us to find a standard and regular training location. We move to different places for each practice – playgrounds, parks or even on the streets.”

The problem is the same for the Rope Skipping Association. “Of course it is money,” was chairman Jason Chan’s response when asked about obstacles promoting skipping. “This sport is not recognised by the government. We have to pay all the expenses.” Chan said the association did ask for a government subsidy, but was refused: the government would only support the sport if it was recognised by Hong Kong’s Sports Federation and Olympic Committee. Chan also notes the association currently has no full-time staff because of its limited budget.

The attitude of local youngsters also hinders the sport’s development. “Children of Hong Kong think that rope skipping is a childish exercise, making them reluctant to know more about this activity,” Cheng says. “Also, most people don’t think they need to learn how to skip. But the fact is, you have to learn how to avoid injury, how to train muscles and how to strengthen the functions of your heart and lungs.”

Typical rope skipping – the variety we might practise at home – is actually a high impact exercise, says one fitness instructor. “Skipping enhances your bone density, trains your muscle with power and improves your hand-foot coordination,” explains American College of Sports Medicine’s Del Wong. “As long as you are not obese, you can practise it.”

Interested? For more information:
www.hkrsa.com; www.hkrsi.com; www.jumprope.org.hk: www.hkskipperz.com

Table That One for Later
Ping pong, a game originated and played by the Victorian upper class, turned into a sport beloved by nations all over the globe. It’s not all about smashing the ball with rubber rackets, it’s about the art of slicing, flicking, or driving the ball. What better way to appreciate the art than to head along to the Open Championship for the Hong Kong Cup? After all, we do have some of the best players in the world.
What: HK Cup Table Tennis Championships (Finals) When: 9am, September 10, Where: Western Park Sports Centre, How Much: Free Enquiries: 25755330, www.hktta.org.hk

Summer Sails Away
The annual Autumn Regatta heralds the start of a new sailing season. About 80 keelboats of different sizes are expected to compete against other boats in their class over three tough races. All races will be staged in Victoria Harbour, from Causeway Bay/Hung Hom eastwards towards Lei Yue Mun Gap. Summer is slowly creeping away, join the sailing crews, and enjoy what’s left of the sun, breeze and splash.
What: Autumn Regatta 2006 When: September 16 – 17 Where: Victoria Harbour How Much: Entry fee $250 Enquiries: www.rhkyc.org.hk

Rugby’s a Ball, Pass it On
2006/07 is shaping up to be a huge year for Hong Kong rugby. With record numbers of teams and players in all age groups from minis upwards, the sport finally seems to have graduated from being known for a one-off event in March to really catching the public’s imagination. Major milestones this season include the 50th anniversary of the Hong Kong Referees Society, the 40th anniversary of the New Year's Day Youth Tournament, and the 10th anniversary of the Women's International Sevens Tournament. Our national 15s team is still in with a chance of qualification for next year's World Cup in France – they face Japan and Korea in November to battle it out for the final slot. In December our 7s team travel to Doha to participate in the Asian Games, taking with them high hopes of a top three finish.

Meanwhile work continues in the community; this year the Rugby Union is financially supporting the education of over 40 local youngsters. Two boys are on full scholarships at the UK's prestigious Hartpury College, and development work in local schools and tertiary institutions continues apace.

So, there’s something in the season for everyone: players, volunteers, coaches, and, of course, spectators. The HKRU kicks off the season with a Sevens-style tournament of fun and excitement – the G4S Kowloon 10s.
What: G4S Kowloon 10s When: September 16, 1pm to 7pm Where: King’s Park Sports Ground How Much: Free

Upcoming Rugby Events
September 2 DeA Pub 7s at King’s Park Sports Grd, noon ­– 6pm
September 9 Macau Beach Tournament at Hak Sa Beach
September 16 G4S Kowloon 10s, King’s Park, 1pm – 7pm
September 23 Crown Valley 15s at King’s Park, 1pm – 7pm
October 7 G4S League Season commences – games all over HK!

For more details on Hong Kong Rugby, visit www.hkrugby.com