Hong Kong’s Grace Lau Wins Bronze in Individual Kata for Her First Medal at the World Games

Hong Kong’s Grace Lau Wins Bronze in Individual Kata for Her First Medal at the World Games
Hong Kong Karate competitor Olympic bronze winner Grace Lau Mo-sheung, defeated Carola Casale of Italy to win her first bronze at The World Games in Birmingham, Alabama, USA, on Friday, July 8, 2022. (Grace Lau Instagram photo)
7/9/2022
Updated:
7/10/2022
The World Games 2022 is taking place July 7 to 17, 2022, in Birmingham, Alabama, USA.
Tokyo Olympic karate bronze medalist Grace Lau Mo-sheung of Hong Kong, competed in the women’s individual kata event at the World Games. Lau successfully won her first World Games medal, after defeating Carola Casale from Italy, in the Bronze medal match scoring 26.28 against Casale’s 25.54.
Joining The World Games for the first time, Grace Lau Mo-shueng seemed to be in great shape. Lau advanced to the final four with two wins and one loss, even though losing by 0.46 points to her close Japanese karateka rival Kiyou Shimizu.
In the semi-final she played Tokyo Olympic karate gold champion, Sandra Sanchez, but lost by a 1.26 point margin, (25.66 to 26.92). Retiring Sanchez went on take gold, beat Japan’s Hikaru Ono by 27.92 to 27.00 in the final.
Lau went on the win the bronze medal match against Casale at 26.28 points to 25.54 respectively.
This is Lau’s first World Games medal, as well as the first win for Hong Kong’s Karate team in the World Games. In recent years, Lau has won medals in her last 10 consecutive international singles competitions. 
Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism of Hong Kong, Kelvin Yeung Yun-hung, congratulated Grace Lau Mo-sheung on his official blog for her bronze medal. Yeung expressed his joy and pride for Lau and other Hong Kong athletes on their success in the World Games.
Hong Kong has 17 sports professionals taking part in the World Games 2022, covering the following eight sports, karate, billiards, Muay Thai, drone racing, squash, roller sports, orienteering, and martial arts.