National Games: Lau Chi-ming inspired by sister Grace Lau’s Olympic success in search of karate medal after disappointing day
- Olympic bronze medallist Grace Lau first learned kata from her older brother, who now seeks a medal at Nationals
- Hong Kong endures a difficult day in China with losses for beach volleyball team and speed climbers
Karate exponent Lau Chi-ming is keen to imitate the success of his younger sister at the Olympics as Hong Kong pins its hopes on the sport after a disappointing set of results at the National Games on Friday.
Both Lau and Jamie Lee Ka-wai will kick off their campaigns at the Xian Engineering University on Saturday, with Lau in the men’s kata while Lee competes the men’s 75kg kumite.
Grace Lau Mo-sheung, who grabbed a bronze medal in the women’s kata for Hong Kong at the Tokyo Games this summer, first learned the sport from her older brother.
“My sister has sacrificed a lot of time and effort, including a closed training camp in the United States before reaching her Olympic success,” said Lau before his departure to Shenzhen for a 21-day quarantine ahead of the Games. “Her result shows Hong Kong athletes can do well in kata and this will also be my target in the National Games.”
Hong Kong won three karate medals at the last National Games in Tianjin and they all came in kata, including Grace Lau’s bronze. Grace Lau had also entered this year’s National Games but pulled out of the event due to injury.