Lau Mo Sheung wins historic gold for China's Hong Kong at World Games

Lau Mo Sheung of China's Hong Kong won the women's kata gold in karate at the 2025 Chengdu World Games in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province on Friday, delivering the Hong Kong delegation's first title in Chengdu, their second in the World Games history and their first-ever in a women's event.

Lau's beat silver medalist Maho Ono of Japan and bronze medalist Paola Garcia Lozano of Spain with a flawless 45.3-point routine.

"This gold medal was a promise to my grandmother, who passed away two weeks ago," the 33-year-old said. "This world title makes it real – I am a world champion now."

In the men's kata final, Japan's Kakeru Nishiyama claimed gold ahead of America's Ariel Torres Gutierrez, with Alessio Ghinami of Italy earning bronze.

Drama struck in the women's kumite -55-kilogram semifinals when China's Wei Yuchun saw a 9-1 lead over Ukraine's Anzhelika Terliuga erased after a successful protest. The match was restarted from Terliuga's original 1-0 lead, and Wei eventually lost, finishing fourth. Germany's Mia Bitsch went on to win gold, beating Terliuga, while Chile's Valentina Toro Meneses took bronze.

"Having all nine points stripped and restarting from 1-0 down – I've never experienced this," Wei said, adding that she was still proud of outscoring the defending champion. "She was my idol as a child, and now I believe I can beat her."

Iran's Sara Bahmanyar upset World No. 1 Moldir Zhangbyrbay of Kazakhstan for the women's kumite -50kg gold, with Croatia's Ema Sgardeli taking bronze.

In the men's kumite -60kg division, Turkey's Eray Samdan beat Japan's Hiromu Hashimoto for gold, and Greece's Christos Xenos earned bronze.

Morocco's Said Oubaya beat Japanese Yugo Kozaki in the men's kumite -67kg final to take gold, and Abdel Rahman Tayel Hayel Almasatfa of Jordan won bronze.