Young Vang has been playing top-spin, or tuj lub, for decades, joining local competitions in St. Paul as of 1992. Keonte House, 11, had been playing the competitive team sport for all of five minutes. The two wholeheartedly agreed Tuesday that the sport — a popular Hmong pastime that dates back to mid-1800s China — is enormously fun, and terribly tricky.

… And the money shot. This guy is good! pic.twitter.com/K3CQYngcXp — FredMelo, Reporter (@FrederickMelo) October 4, 2016

The pair joined St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman and Parks and Recreation Director Mike Hahm at the city’s Duluth and Case Rec Center on Tuesday for the unveiling of two lengthy tuj lub courts south of Phalen Boulevard and Johnson Parkway, an area with a heavy Hmong population. The officials were met there by state Sen. Foung Hawj, DFL-St. Paul, state Rep. Tim Mahoney, DFL-St. Paul, and St. Paul City Council Member Dan Bostrom.

The courts, which are approximately 10 feet by 100 feet, were funded by $40,000 set aside by the mayor’s office in the 2015 city budget. The sport, which combines the disciplines of golf and bowling, involves using a rod and fishing line to toss a heavy spinning top onto a court split into various segments. At key stages, competitors are expected to knock down each other’s tops.

Keonte House, 11, is hooked on Tuj Lub pic.twitter.com/uCJll77wKD — FredMelo, Reporter (@FrederickMelo) October 4, 2016

The rec center, at 1020 Duluth St., also hosts outdoor football, flag football, soccer and softball fields, as well as tennis courts. Ramsey County recently opened four new tuj lub courts in Keller Regional Park in Maplewood.