What is Chinlone or Cane ball?
Chinlone is a traditional national sport of Myanmar and can be played by men, women and children, sometimes together, interchangeably. The ball is normally made from hand-woven rattan and light to hit. Since over 1500 years ago, Chinlone had been played for Myanmar royalty as an entertainment. During British rule in Myanmar from 1824 to 1948, their influences weighed heavily upon Burmese life. British sports lingered in most parts of the country and some traditional Burmese sports were almost forgotten. Even after Myanmar’s independence in 1948, there were so rare traditional sports played by people but British sports like polo were widely played during those days. However, from the 1960s and onwards, there was a big governmental push for tradition and historical preservation and traditional sports like Chinlone had been started to introduce to children by adding articles about it in school’s curriculum. By that way, they found a pride on their culture and tradition and Chinlone was finally considered as a sport.
How to play Chinlone?
The game can be played two different ways. The first way consists of five or six players standing in circle and hitting the ball in the air by legs without letting it hit the ground. Typically, the hands are not allowed to touch the ball and while the others are playing the ball, the one will be at the middle of the circle, showing different methods of controlling the ball in the air with some manoeuvres of dancing. In competition matches, an uplifting orchestral music is played at the background and the participants will be in very active mood for dancing along with the ball. The other way to play cane ball is to split up into 2 teams of 3 people each and let them play like volleyball matches. There are some rules and point systems for playing. In actuality, these rules were written in a rulebook for Chinlone by the head of the Burma Athletic Association, U Ah Yein, in 1953 according to the government’s order to promote Chinlone sport to be official and more competitive.
Now Chnelone playing becomes popular in many countries.
Nowadays, in spite of the fact that it was controversial as other countries couldn’t adequately compete in a sport that is unique to only Myanmar, Chinlone has been widely regarded as a significant sport in Southeast Asian Games. Many gold medals for Chinlone had been awarded to hardworking teams in spectacular SEA Games and not only Myanmar but also other countries have won achievements from it through the years. So Chinlone has been unquestionably a worldwide prominent sport and if you would love to learn how Chinlone is played in Myanmar, we will be very glade to organize a special tour with Chinlone matches for your enjoyment without hesitation.