In an exciting addition to the 12th National Ethnic Games, coconut tree climbing has made its official debut, culminating in a thrilling two-day competition at Southwest University Sanya Middle School on Sunday. The host province, Hainan, showcased its prowess by sweeping both the men's and women's titles in this unique sport.
Coconut tree climbing, a sport deeply rooted in the daily lives of Hainan locals who traditionally climb trees to harvest coconuts, challenges participants to ascend a narrow timber structure as swiftly as possible to press a button at the top. This race against time demands both speed and technique, and with the specialized equipment unique to Hainan, it's no surprise that local athletes excelled.
Luo Jun of the Li Minority captured the men's title with an impressive time of 6.188 seconds, while Fu Shijun, representing the Han ethnicity, secured the women's title in 6.663 seconds. Both champions, hailing from Hainan, expressed their joy in demonstrating their skills before a supportive home crowd and in promoting this traditional sport.
\"I'm so excited. I have dreamed of winning the title, but never expected that dream to actually come true. I’m beyond happy and I’m thrilled. In Hainan, us locals usually climb trees to pick coconuts when we want fresh coconut water. For this event, a coconut tree climbing race was added, and now everyone is learning about the sport. It’s a fantastic way to promote and raise awareness of Hainan's traditional sports,\" said Luo.
Fu added, \"I'm a sprinter, and I believe my training has helped build my explosive power, which gives me an advantage in the race. When I was younger, I always wanted to climb trees and pick coconuts to drink fresh coconut water, but I didn't have the strength to do it. Now that I'm stronger, I decided to try the sport and fulfill that childhood dream. Winning the first-ever title at home feels incredible, especially because I can bring glory to Hainan.\"
Reference(s):
12th National Ethnic Games: Hainan sweep coconut tree climbing titles
cgtn.com
