Shangyu - Three young athletes from Chongqing set a new world record in the 60-second mixed-gender speed rope event at the 2026 Asian Jump Rope Championships, held in Shangyu, Shaoxing, Zhejiang Province.
Leng Haoran, Ou Xutao, and Xu Chengxi from Gangcheng Primary School in Chongqing's Liangjiang New Area delivered a flawless performance, achieving 496 successful jumps in one minute and securing the gold medal while breaking the existing world record for the event.
The three athletes on the podium. (Photo provided by the interviewees)
The Asian Jump Rope Championships, the continent's highest-level competition for the sport, is organized under the auspices of the Asian Jump Rope Union (AJRU) and co-hosted by the General Administration of Sport of China's Social Sports Guidance Center and the Chinese Shuttlecock and Rope Skipping Association. This year's edition drew more than 1,160 competitors from nine Asian countries and regions.
The 60-second speed event is one of the most demanding disciplines in jump rope, requiring two rope turners and one jumper to maintain perfect synchronization, cadence, and footwork throughout. Any disruption in rhythm can cost the team the attempt.
Action from the competition. (Photo provided by the interviewees)
On competition day, the trio executed with mechanical precision - starting smoothly, accelerating through the middle, and sprinting to the finish without a single error. When the final buzzer sounded, the scoreboard read 496: a new world record.
All three athletes are members of Gangcheng Primary School's jump rope team. Seven students from the school were selected to represent China at the Asian championships following a rigorous national tryout process.
Action from the competition. (Photo provided by the interviewees)
Coach Fan Ziqi attributed the victory to months of disciplined training. "They spent countless mornings and evenings refining their technique and correcting minute details," Fan said. "This record is the result of day-in, day-out perseverance."
"Speed rope isn't about one person going fast, but about three people moving as one," Fan added. "Beyond the results, what matters most is what sport teaches these children: the chemistry of fighting side by side, the courage to face strong opponents, and the resilience to never give up."