SINGAPORE: The Olympic fever may be over but some kids here have a reason to jump for joy. That is because they have helped Singapore bag two golds in rope skipping at the Amateur Athletic Union Junior Olympic Games held in the United States in August.

10-year-old Ben Ong and his team-mates can clock up to 300 jumps per minute. The team from Rulang Primary and Paya Lebar Methodist Primary was the first and only Asian team competing in the rope skipping event.

They beat 39 other teams to clinch gold in the individual freestyle for the 10-year-old category and the double dutch relay team event. This was an achievement for the niche sport, which took off here in 2004.

Ben Ong said: "I saw many other people skipping and I thought that it was very interesting, so I decided to join it as a CCA. I hope to go back to the US to compete again and win for Singapore."

Meanwhile, silver medallist for the Individual Power and Speed event, Ariel Yue, said: "I have been to America, Japan, France and Malaysia for competitions. When you get good enough, you get to go for overseas competitions. I want to be a professional skipper and also win more trophies."

Rulang Primary School's efforts to develop the sport bore fruit last year. It was ranked eleventh in the International Double Dutch Competition held in Paris, France.

As more skippers are groomed for overseas competitions, the Rope Skipping Singapore sports association hopes skipping will become a mainstream sport in time to come. - CNA/vm