Main Gasing in Bahasa Melayu means spinning of tops. It is a popular traditional game
among the villages in Malaysia especially in Kelantan and Malacca after the rice-harvest
when several villagers challenge each other to a test of skill.
This game of spinning tops is played by first drawing a circle on the floor to define the
area within which the tops must be kept spinning. To spin the top, a string is tightly
wound round the base. The player clasps the top in his hand, gripping the loose end of
the string between the fingers, and throws the top into the circle. The force of the
throw and the quick unloosening effect of the string make the top spin. The one whose
top outspins the others within the circle wins the game. Gasing can be played
individually or in teams of four. Gasing is also a traditional sport played by adults. The
adult’s gasing tends to be bigger and can spin for a longer period than those played by
the kids.
