Hong Kong karateka World’s No. 1 Liu Mu-Shang (Grace) has just clinched the gold medal in the women’s individual kata event at the 12th World Games held in Chengdu, China in 2025. This victory not only marks the first gold for Hong Kong in this year’s Games but also sets multiple records in the history of karate in Hong Kong.
The World Games took place at the Chengdu Jianyang Sports Center, where Liu Muchang secured her spot in the finals after a flawless performance in the group stage, impressing everyone with her exceptional skill and strength. In the semifinals, Grace scored 44.9 points with Eight Steps Connect (Papuren) and narrowly defeated Fatemeh Sadeghi Dastak, the world-ranked 9 from Iran, by a margin of 3 points. She then proceeded to the finals to face off against World II Manami Oino in a thrilling showdown.
In the finals, Liu Mushang and Oine Manbu both showcased Beigugu Yaryō Kōsama. Oine Manbu made a strong impression first, scoring 43.6 points, but it was Grace who delivered an outstanding performance last, clinching the highest score of the day with 45.3 points. This victory earned the Hong Kong team their first gold medal at the World Games. It’s also her first time reaching the top of the podium at the World Games, making her the trailblazer as Hong Kong’s first World Games champion in karate.
The day after Liu Mu-shang clinched gold, she triumphantly returned to Hong Kong from Chengdu and shared her thoughts during an airport interview. The goal of participating in the last World Games was to win a medal. This time, it’s not just about earning a medal; it’s about going for gold. So, while I’m satisfied with my performance, I wouldn’t give myself a perfect score.Grace also responded to her emotional moment on the podium where she shed tears remembering her grandmother, who passed away two weeks ago. She mentioned that she had promised her grandmother earlier that she would strive for gold medals at the World University Games and the World Championships. Now that she has successfully fulfilled that promise with one accomplishment, Grace believes her grandmother would be proud of her achievements.
Regarding her future plans, after completing the Universiade events, Grace will take a brief break before diving into preparations for the World Karate Championships set to take place in November in Cairo, Egypt. She hopes to fulfill her promise to her grandmother by winning the gold medal that has been her dream all along. Grace mentions that this victory has boosted her confidence immensely, and she plans to participate in some smaller competitions to maintain her form. Throughout the season, she aims to continuously adjust her mindset and wholeheartedly embrace the challenges ahead, determined to continue writing her own karate legend, as well as that of Hong Kong.
