World champion rope skipper Timothy Ho Chu-ting calls for Hong Kong to embrace thriving sport as he aims for new world record

Former world record-holder Ho says sport’s increasing popularity is natural given fitness perks and spatial convenience

‘People should appreciate that the simplest things can be the most difficult,’ says Ho as team prepares for world champs

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Hong Kong rope skipping champion Timothy Ho Chu-ting at a Red Bull Skip to Fit event at Decathlon Tseung Kwan O in May. Photo: SCMP / Winson Wong

Published: 8:45am, 29 May 2021Updated: 11:27am, 29 May 2021

Two-time world champion rope skipper Timothy Ho Chu-ting relishes the sport’s uptick in popularity in Hong Kong amid the Covid-19 pandemic – and now he wants us all to physically or virtually skip 283,000 times by July.

The 26-year-old, who has long dominated the domestic and international scenes, spent the day easing newbies into rooftop skipping at a Red Bull Skip to Fit event in Decathlon Tseung Kwan O on Wednesday.

The daunting number of skips symbolises the reported 283.345 mile-long New Territories coastline – the average Hong Konger takes 11 minutes to run a mile, which is roughly equivalent to 1,000 jumps-worth of energy expenditure.

Though those unfamiliar may smirk at the concept of a skipping scene in the city – thriving or not – former world record-holder Ho had this to say.

Timothy Ho Chu-ting believes rope-skipping is the perfect sport for Hongkongers to keep fit. Photo: SCMP / Winson Wong

“I would tell them it’s the same for all sports. People might not respect some – new ones especially, but rope-skipping has developed immensely in Hong Kong and it’s only increased during the pandemic due to its suitability,” he said.