Hong Kong, China won its first medal of the World Games in Chengdu as World No. 1 Grace Lau took gold in women's karate.

With a score of 45.3, Lau defeated Japan’s Maho Ono's 43.6, ranked second in the world, in the women's individual kata final on Friday.

The 33-year-old took home a bronze at the World Games 2022 and was a bronze medallist at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021.

Wong Po-kee, the delegation's Chef de Mission and honorary deputy secretary general of the Sports Federation and Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China, said Lau returned to this year’s Games in “peak form” and advanced to the final with her exceptional skills.

“In the gold medal match, Grace continued to perform well. With her powerful and well-controlled moves, she out-competed her rival,” Wong said.

“This gold medal marks Hong Kong’s first at the Games, a proud achievement that not only celebrates Grace’s success, but also inspires fellow athletes as they prepare to compete.”

More than 20 athletes from the SAR will compete in seven sports: air sports, billiards, karate, orienteering, squash, water skiing, and wushu.

The World Games kicked off on Thursday and will run until August 17, featuring more than 200 medal events across 34 disciplines.