21-Year-Old HK Woman Makes History as Sole Female Contestant in WorldSkills Tiling Event
Thestandard · 1 SOURCESabout 4 hours ago4 MIN
Summary
A 21-year-old Hong Kong woman has made history at the 48th WorldSkills Competition in Shanghai by becoming the only female contestant in the Wall and Floor Tiling event. Tai Hsin-i, a student at the Hong Kong Institute of Construction, has drawn widespread attention for her precision and composure in a traditionally male-dominated field. She won the Hong Kong selection competition in 2025 to secure her place at the international competition, then took a year off from her studies to focus on intensive training.
Key Points
- Tai Hsin-i (戴善怡), 21, is the sole female contestant among all participants in the Wall and Floor Tiling category at the 48th WorldSkills Competition in Shanghai .
- She studies for a Higher Diploma in Building Services Supervision at the Hong Kong Institute of Construction and trained for nearly a year before winning Hong Kong's 2025 WorldSkills selection competition .
- The competition spans four days with approximately 22 hours of work, requiring contestants to complete three modules based on technical drawings covering nearly 7 square meters .
- Contestants must maintain tile gaps within 1 millimeter and ensure surfaces are level and free of hollow spots, demonstrating exceptional precision .
- She was observed lifting a 25-kilogram bag of cement, opening it with a knife, and preparing mortar using a mixer during the competition .
Why It Matters
Tai's achievement challenges longstanding gender barriers in Hong Kong's construction industry, where manual trades have traditionally been dominated by men . Her success at an international level could inspire more young women in Hong Kong to pursue careers in skilled trades, promoting greater gender diversity in the sector .
Tai's achievement challenges longstanding gender barriers in Hong Kong's construction industry, where manual trades have traditionally been dominated by men . Her success at an international level could inspire more young women in Hong Kong to pursue careers in skilled trades, promoting greater gender diversity in the sector .