1 week ago
57
SINGA
PORE – On stage for the first time, little
James Liew
steeled his nerves, heaved in a deep breath
and
blocked out the cheers from the crowd.
At the beat drop, the
seven-year-old
unleashed the yo-yo that was resting in his palm, and his moves morphed into a blur of rapid movements and smooth tricks.
That evening in July, James placed ninth among 13 participants in the junior division at the Singapore Yo-yo Championship. The division featured players aged 16 and under.
For James, though, the placing did not matter. Just competing on stage at the Foochow Building in Jalan Besar, in front of almost a hundred people, was a milestone in his yo-yo journey. He first picked up the activity in February 2024, and it has since grown into one he practises with zealous devotion.
The Primary 2 pupil, who turned eight shortly after the competition, told The Straits Times: “The best part is learning new tricks and showing them to my family and friends. It makes me really happy, and I never get bored with it.”
James is part of a group of peppy young players fronting a refreshed wave of interest here in the decades-old hobby.
Since
August 2024
, he regularly attends yo-yo meet-ups, where about 30 other enthusiasts – most of whom are aged from
seven to their 20s
– band together to practise routines, and share tips and tricks.
The monthly sessions are organised by Mr Marcus Koh, 32, founder of yo-yo company ThrowRevolution.
While the yo-yo is a popular pastime enjoyed by generations, hype around the “modern” yo-yo – featuring sophisticated parts like ball bearings – landed in Singapore in the
1990s,
buoyed by the popularity of the
ProYo by American maker Playmaxx
.
A product of that era, Mr Koh went on to become a yo-yo world champion – the sole Singaporean to do so – in
2011, and in 2015,
began mentoring ardent up-and-comers like James.
He recalled how yo-yo speciality shop Spinworkx &ndash...
English (US)