Grace Lau wins silver, Hong Kong's first medal at Nagoya Asian Games
Thestandard · 1 SOURCESabout 5 hours ago2 MIN
Summary
Hong Kong karate star Grace Lau Mo-sheung captured silver in the women's individual kata at the Nagoya Asian Games on Sunday, marking the territory's first medal of the Games. The 34-year-old world No. 1 fell 0-5 to Japanese rival Maho Ono in the final, but improved on her back-to-back bronze finishes from previous editions.
Key Points
- Grace Lau Mo-sheung won silver in women's individual kata at the 2026 Nagoya Asian Games on Sunday, Hong Kong's first medal of the Games
- The 34-year-old world No. 1 lost the final 0-5 to Japanese rival Maho Ono, who fought on home soil in Nagoya, Japan
- This marks Lau's third Asian Games appearance and her first improvement on back-to-back bronze medals from the previous two editions
- Lau overcame a grueling schedule with only five minutes rest between quarterfinal and semifinal bouts before winning her semifinal 5-0
- She performed the Chatanyara Kushanku routine in the final, while Ono executed the Suparinpei to secure a unanimous 5-0 decision
- Lau will receive HK$500,000 under the Jockey Club Athlete Incentive Awards Scheme for her silver medal achievement
Why It Matters
Lau's silver marks a breakthrough for Hong Kong at these Games, providing early momentum and validation of the territory's investment in elite athlete development programs . Her performance also underscores the fierce rivalry with Japan's Ono, as Lau seeks to overturn a recent pattern of defeats against her longtime competitor .
Lau's silver marks a breakthrough for Hong Kong at these Games, providing early momentum and validation of the territory's investment in elite athlete development programs . Her performance also underscores the fierce rivalry with Japan's Ono, as Lau seeks to overturn a recent pattern of defeats against her longtime competitor .