Feather touch

It may not look like much, but its pedigree can beat most mainstream sports hollow. Jianzi (aka ‘Chinese hacky sack’, aka ‘foot badminton’, aka ‘featherball’, aka ‘kinja’) has been played in China since the fifth century BC. From there it spread to other parts of Asia and, in 1936, landed in Europe, when a Chinese athlete offered a demonstration at the Berlin Summer Olympics. 

It’s deceptively simple in its construction — just four feathers skewered into a plastic accordion base. The base weighs down the feathers, ensuring the shuttle, which is propelled with spectacular overhead kicks (hands not allowed), always lands feet first. The game can be played across a net (like badminton) or in a circle with players trying to keep the shuttle in the air. 

I first saw jianzi in action on Phnom Penh’s lively waterfront. And I was hooked, feather, ball and all. I picked it up in the next dusty town we hit (three for $1). Meant as peace offerings to any wary tykes I might run across, I, alas, found them impossible to part with.