Efforts to popularise tops spinning in Melaka

Top spinning, although a game introduced in Melaka since the Melaka Sultanate, has failed to woo the youngsters to the sport.

The game though still being played actively in eight centres in the state, including Bukit Rambai, Serkam, and Bukit Sengeh, is now more confined to the elders.

Top spinning was a game introduced in the state since the 15th Century but many had shied away as it was played in a single area for several hours.

In the yester years, the top spinning was confined to the power brokers and bomohs who took up the game to weaken their opponent’s spirit and also distract their attention.

There are various types of top spinning in the state, including the round top, gasing tunjang, gasing botol or gasing jantung while gasing leper is also known as gasing pereng or gasing merempang.

Many of the youths had preferred for other sports which were brought by the rapid development.

Several changes to the rules and regulations have been made to the game to woo more youngsters to take up the game which has its own uniqueness and expertise of the players.

To produce a good top, superior quality wood is used to ensure that it would be able to withstand the attack of the opponent’s top while a skilled player can score points through hitting the opponent’s tops or driving it out of a circle. It also needs a lot of concentration on the players.

In the olden days, there was a belief that top spinning can also chase away evil spirits or ghosts which harm their farm produce. They belief that the noise when two tops collide would scare them away.

Malaysian Tops Spinning Referees Board chairman and Melaka Tops Spinning Association coach Koh Kim Bok said an even and hard 14m by 14m ground is needed for a top spinning game,comprising of eight players divided into two teams.

Also known as Baba Kim Bok, he said the association conducts training as well as have top spinning performances at the Gasing Pangkah court in Banda Hilir.

He said the people will have the opportunity to witness the tops spinning which has been adapted into ssports to attract more people.

He has represented Melaka in several championships including the "Melayu Merdeka Challenge Shield" in 1957 and is also involved in producing the tops as well as handicrafts.

He said the association welcomes the youths to join any top spinning association in a bid to produce good tops spinners as well as bring glory to the state.

Mingguan Melaka : 29 Okt - 4 Nov 2000. Issue 18

Copyright © 2000 by IKSEP, Melaka . Issue 18 (29 Okt - 4 Nov 2000)