Grace Lau Mo Sheung Wins Bronze in Karate!

Grace Lau Mo Sheung wins the first-ever Olympic medal awarded in karate. And with the sport dropped for Paris 2024 likely one of only four ever awarded.

Karate is making its first appearance at the Olympic Games in Tokyo 2020, with men and women competing in kata (forms) and kumite (sparring) events at the Nippon Budokan.

Lau’s bronze medal fight in the Kata against Turkey’s Dilara Bozan was a tight affair, as both faced off against a virtual opponent, finishing 26.94 – 26.52.

https://bcmagazine.smugmug.com/Bcene-photos/2021/Grace-Lau-Mo-Sheung-Wins-Bronze-in-Karate/i-FDzXjZg

What is Kata?

Kata are demonstrations of forms consisting of a series of offensive and defensive movements targeting a virtual opponent. Competitors choose the kata they will demonstrate from 102 that are recognised by the World Karate Federation. A point-based system was adopted in January 2019 whereby the scores awarded by three of the seven judges are added then applied to a separate calculation formula to determine the winner.

Key factors include the strength, speed, rhythm, balance and power of strikes and kicks; the solidity, clarity and force of movements; and the proper expression of the meaning of each technique with beautiful, flowing motion.

https://bcmagazine.smugmug.com/Bcene-photos/2021/Grace-Lau-Mo-Sheung-Wins-Bronze-in-Karate/i-7jcVzHg

Lee Wai Sze Wins Second Sprint Bronze

After what she must have found a frustrating and disappointing Olympics Sarah Lee Wai Sze’s beaming smile returned on the last day of the Tokyo2020 games as she won the sprint bronze medal.

After crashing out of the Kirin and not finding her form in the opening rounds of the sprint Lee came good at the end comprehensively beating the current World Champion Germany’s Emma Hinze 2-0.

In winning bronze at Tokyo2020 Lee becomes, after her bronze London2012, the first-ever Hong Kong athlete to win medals at two  Olympic games! What an amazing achievement, Chapeau!

lee wai sze bronze Tokyo2020Sarah Lee Wai Sze Tokyo2020Sarah Lee Wai Sze Tokyo2020 - Man TsangIllustration: Man Tsang

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Graphic: Surreal HK