Grace Lau Mo-sheung makes history, becomes World No.1 in women’s kata

In a major career milestone, Hong Kong’s karate queen Grace Lau Mo-sheung, 32, claimed world number one ranking in women’s kata on Wednesday. She is also the city’s first-ever martial artist to do so.

With a total of 7,125 points, Lau rose to the top of the world’s female karate rankings, surpassing two Japanese elites, Hikaru Ono, who is currently ranked at second, and Kiyou Shimizu, at third.

Lau expressed excitement on social media, adding that she was thrilled to be able to reach the world's highest ranking in early 2024. She thanked her team, friends, and family for their support, also noting that this success would continue to drive her to push beyond her limits.

Congratulating Lau for her achievement, Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism Kevin Yeung Yun-hung said it is very exciting to see Hong Kong's homegrown athletes ranking among the best in the world again. 

"Grace Lau wrote a glorious page in Hong Kong's karate history by taking top spot in the world ranking ... We are proud of Grace's perseverance," he said in a statement.