Hong Kong Yoyo World Champion Unveils Custom Secret Weapon with Aluminum Rings
HK01 · 1 SOURCESabout 2 hours ago5 MIN
Summary
Hong Kong yoyo world champion Chan Chun-hei (陳俊熙) has unveiled his specially crafted competition yoyo, a project developed over one year with a local yoyo company sponsor. The innovation involves removing the traditional side cap and embedding aluminum alloy rings to boost edge weight and extend spin duration. His teammate Ron, one of the sponsor brand's founders, explained that the gap between yoyo halves must be precise—even a 0.1 cm or 0.02 cm difference affects stability. Chan also designed half-dark, half-light color schemes in multiple colors to adapt to varying venue lighting conditions. The Japanese defending champion reportedly expressed amazement at the yoyo, saying it seemed incapable of stopping.
Key Points
- Chan Chun-hei (陳俊熙) competes in the two-handed looping (2A) category and uses round-edge yoyos, which he spent one year customizing with his sponsor
- The modification removes the original side cap and adds aluminum alloy rings to both sides, increasing edge weight and rotational speed
- The gap between yoyo halves must remain perfectly horizontal—Ron noted that deviations of just 0.1 cm or even 0.02 cm significantly impact performance, likening the process to building a car for Chan
- Chan created half-dark, half-light color combinations in red, blue, green, and yellow to accommodate different venue lighting and floor surfaces
- The custom yoyo was completed two weeks before the world championships; the defending Japanese champion reportedly marveled at its performance
Why It Matters
Chan's success demonstrates how Hong Kong's grassroots innovation culture extends even to niche competitive sports. His approach—treating the yoyo not as a simple toy but as precision engineering—shows how local talent can excel globally through technical excellence and meticulous attention to detail .
Chan's success demonstrates how Hong Kong's grassroots innovation culture extends even to niche competitive sports. His approach—treating the yoyo not as a simple toy but as precision engineering—shows how local talent can excel globally through technical excellence and meticulous attention to detail .