DEBAK: Tradition spins not only in play but also in craft, as local makers continue to hand-carve gasing (spinning tops) from forest wood – a skill passed down to sustain the heritage of the Saribas Debak Traditional Gasing Club.
Established in 2018 and officially registered with the Malaysian Sports Commissioner in 2021, the club has been at the forefront of keeping gasing alive through regular competitions and community engagement.
Each year, no fewer than three or four tournaments are organised in Debak, with additional events held in Saratok and Sebauh.
Youth and school participation have been a key feature, with players from Saratok, Sri Aman, Sebauh and even Samarahan joining the local tournaments.
“We have seen very encouraging response from the youth, especially students.
“One reason is because the cost of preparing the equipment is affordable. A gasing costs about RM100, while the string set is around RM40.
“This makes it easier for our young players to take part,” said club president, Yak Sebeli Kudang, when speaking to the Sarawak Tribune in an interview recently.
Matches can be played in singles, doubles, or triples, with the larger formats often offering more lucrative prizes.
Beyond competition, the club also preserves traditional craftsmanship. Gasing are typically carved from hardwoods sourced from local forests.
The process, Yak explained, takes as little as three hours for an experienced maker to complete.
“We are fortunate to have skilled individuals here who are very experienced in making both gasing and their strings.
“Most of the makers are from the older generation, usually in their forties and fifties, but this is knowledge we hope can be passed on to the younger ones,” he added.
While gasing and strings are available from other states such as Selangor and Kelantan, local players prefer the longer strings traditionally used in Debak to suit the larger tops, which measure up to five inches wide.
Through its steady efforts, the Saribas Debak Traditional Gasing Club has not only revived a pastime but nurtured a heritage that continues to draw new players with every spin.
On Saturday, Deputy Minister for Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development, Datuk Dr Ripin Lamat, said traditional sports such as gasing (top spinning) have long been cultural treasures, yet participation today is largely limited to older generations.
“If we don’t highlight traditional sports or encourage the younger generation to take part, there is a real risk that these cultural games will eventually disappear, as most of the participants now are veterans,” he told reporters during the BeliaGoBiz event in Debak
Ripin stressed that traditional sports are part of the nation’s heritage and should continue to be practised.
