Good Old Days: All About Chapteh
- , by Daniel Low
- 4 min reading time
Need a gift or looking for a new hobby? Try chapteh, a traditional game that requires kicking up a feathered shuttlecock and keeping it in the air for as long as possible. Discover where to buy chapteh in Singapore with this guide!
All About Chapteh: A Popular Traditional Game in Singapore
In this digital age, games are usually played online. Because of this, children and adults are often stuck at home, ending up with less exercise and poor social skills.
Fortunately, traditional games are still very much alive. One example is chapteh, a popular children’s pastime enjoyed widely before modern technology became so widespread.
What Is Chapteh?
Chapteh is a traditional game in Singapore that is played worldwide, particularly in Southeast Asia. It is called by different names, such as chatek, capteh in Singapore and Malaysia, 毽 子 (jianzi) in China, da cau in Vietnam, and peteca in Brazil.
This game uses a rubber disc with coloured feathers attached to a plastic or rubber sole. It is similar to the shuttlecock in badminton. However, the difference is that it should be kept in the air for as long as possible, primarily through kicking.
Who Invented Chapteh?
Chapteh dates back to the 5th century BCE in China. Like football, it originated from Cuju. It was used to train military men and played by Shaolin monks in Henan during the Tang Dynasty to improve their martial art skills.
For two millennia, the game remained popular. It became more known as Chien Tsu (jianqiu), which means arrow, during the Song Dynasty.
Over time, chapteh gained global popularity, prompting the creation of the International Shuttlecock Federation in 1999.
Once played mainly for fun, this game was later acknowledged as a serious competitive activity. In 2003, it was included as a competitive sport at the 22nd Southeast Asian Games held in Vietnam. Different countries participated, including Bulgaria, China, Chinese Taipei, Finland, France, Hong Kong, Germany, Greece, Hungary, and Indonesia.
Today, this sport is widely known worldwide as shuttlecock kicking. It remains popular in Singapore, where it is promoted through museums, themed cafés, retail stores, and other places. People of all ages participate, including seniors who still play regularly.
What Are the Benefits of Playing Chapteh?
No matter the age, this game is enjoyable. Here are some benefits of playing it:
- Boosts agility and speed
- Develops ball control skills
- Encourages more social interaction with peers
- Improves hand-eye coordination
- Offers a fun way to exercise
- Provides an easy and affordable way to ease boredom
- Teaches good sportsmanship
What Are the Rules of Chapteh?
The goal of the game is to keep the chapteh airborne for as long as you can. Players must kick, tap, or nudge it upward using the heel or other body parts, but not the hands, so it doesn’t fall and touch the ground.
Chapteh may be played solo or in teams. In a solo match, who starts is chosen by having each player flick the chapteh with their heel without setting the foot down. The player who scores the most before the shuttlecock drops or their foot touches the ground earns the first turn.
Individual players keep the shuttlecock in the air until they miss it or lose their footing. This time, they are allowed to put their foot down after every kick. The one who reaches the winning tally of kicks or has the highest score wins.
For group games, players form a circle and take turns passing the shuttlecock around and keeping it from falling onto the ground. The team with the highest number of total kicks wins.
Where To Buy Chapteh In Singapore?
Chapteh is a fun, affordable, and unique way to start a new hobby, get exercise, or spend time with friends and family. Best of all, it can be the perfect present for anyone, regardless of their age. For instance, it can be used as gifts for students from teachers or as giveaways at corporate events!
If you’re wondering where to buy chapteh in Singapore, you’ve come to the right place! We are OneDollarOnly, a reputable supplier that has been in business for 25 years. We offer over 500 products, logo printing, and customisation.
Our items go as low as $0.50, so you’ll never have to worry about hurting your budget when you order from us. Also, we have local stock. This means you can have your items delivered within just 3-5 days.
To learn more about traditional games in Singapore, read our Traditional Games Guide. Or if you want to discover more about the different old school games and their history, check these out:
