Alumni in Conversation
Sporting success
投身全職運動員憑努力踏上世界舞台
CityU graduates are taking on the world in the highly competitive international arenas of karate and squash兩位城大畢業生無懼挑戰，在競爭激烈的空手道及壁球運動國際體壇大放異彩
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Grace Lau Mo-sheung
劉慕裳 BSc (Hons) Creative Media 創意媒體榮譽理學士 Full-time athlete/Hong Kong karatedo team member 全職運動員及香港空手道代表 
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- At the age of 11, started learning karate
- In 2012, admitted to CityU's BSc Creative Media programme under the University's Student Athletes Admission Scheme and received the Dr Herman Hu Outstanding Sports Talents Scholarship
- In 2014 and 2015, earned the honour of University Sports Federation of Hong Kong (USFHK) Sportswoman of the Year
- In August 2018, won a bronze medal in Asian Games, the city's first individual medal in the sport
- In November 2018, collected a bronze medal at the World Karate Championships, another Hong Kong first
Global star in the making
The “Hong Kong's karate diva” has worked hard to enhance her punching power and insists on practising at least five hours a day. It is such persistence as well as talent that has enabled the feisty competitor to develop her distinctive routines and work her way up from local champion to the world stage.CityU life provided great support for Grace's sporting goals and many warm memories. “Every day after school, I would practise at the Hong Kong Sports Institute until late in the evening. But my roommates were always thoughtful and would leave me a meal and cook soup for me. Student Development Services mentors also gave me systematic guidance to maintain a balance between my studies, practice, and competitions,” she recalled.
As a result, Grace was able to lead the CityU women's karatedo team to a team gold medal in the USFHK competition during her undergraduate days and earn herself the honour of USFHK Sportswoman of the Year in both 2014 and 2015.
Power of confidence
After defeating global karate champions, in a host of international tournaments, Grace knows how difficult it is to win. “The most important thing is to trust yourself. If you have confidence, you will be able to perform well even when faced with strong opponents,” she said.In 2014 when Grace enrolled for a Karate 1-Premier League tournament, she fell ill before the competition and her under-par physical condition put paid to her chances in entering the second round. However, encouraged by her coach, she managed to focus on her repechage matches, beating subsequent opponents, and even defeating the then world No.1 player by an impressive 4:1 ratio in her final match. The victory earned Grace third place in the competition.
Grace is now honing her moves for karate's debut at the Olympics in Tokyo 2020, dedicated to doing her best in every match, constantly challenging herself, Grace is as hard to beat as a role model as she is on the karate mat.
At CityU, Grace Lau led the University's women's karatedo team to outstanding results in University Sports Federation of Hong Kong competitions.
劉慕裳就讀城大期間，曾率領城大女子空手道代表隊在大專賽事取得佳績。
劉慕裳11歲便開始學習空手道、搏擊和套拳，其後入選香港隊，更通過城大「學生運動員計劃」，獲取「胡曉明博士優秀運動專才獎學金」入讀創意媒體學院的理學士課程。她繼2018年8月首度出戰亞運會便勇奪女子空手道套拳賽銅牌，成為香港首位空手道個人型（套路）獎牌得主後，更於同年11月的世界空手道錦標賽中首奪銅牌，創下港隊歷來最佳成績。
堅持不懈練習力臻完美
被譽為本港空手道套拳「一姐」的劉慕裳，由入選港隊到稱霸本地賽事，以至晉身世界舞台，除了靠個人天賦還有賴孜孜不倦的努力。為了做到速度和力量兼備，她更加倍鍛煉體能，增強出拳的力度，並堅持每天至少練習五小時或以上，務求做到最好。城大生活留給劉慕裳很多美好回憶，她憶述︰「每天放學後要到體院練習至晚上，宿友們經常『留飯』和『煲湯』給我，非常體貼窩心。學生發展處的導師更循循善誘，幫助我兼顧學業和頻繁的練習與比賽。」在校期間，劉慕裳曾率領城大女子空手道代表隊，在大專空手道賽事勇奪團體金牌。更於2014及2015年，連獲兩屆「大專全年最佳女子運動員」的殊榮。
憑信心遇強愈強
劉慕裳多次在國際級賽事擊敗世界各地的強手。她深明取得獎牌並不容易，指出︰「做運動員最重要是相信自己，只要有信心，即使遇到強勁對手，仍能夠發揮出最佳表現。」她於2014年參加世界排名賽分站賽事前生病，在狀態不佳下，最終落敗。憑藉教練的鼓勵，她很快重新振作參加敗者復活戰，成功擊敗多位對手，最後更以四比一的大比數擊敗當時世界排名第一的選手奪得季軍。
劉慕裳以參加2020年東京奧運會為下一個目標，專注每一場比賽，不斷挑戰自己，繼續發光發亮，再創佳績。
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Yip Tsz-fung
葉梓豐 BBA (Hons) Management Science 工商管理榮譽學士（管理科學） Full-time athlete/Hong Kong squash team member 全職運動員及香港壁球代表 
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- At the age of 7, started practising squash
- In September 2016, became the first Hong Kong squash player won in the men's singles at the World University Championships
- In April 2018, champion of the Macau Open Squash tournament
- In September 2018, won a silver medal (men's team) in Asia Games
Rational thinking
Tsz-fung was admitted to CityU's BBA Management Science programme under the University's Student Athletes Admission Scheme. He found life a constant balancing act, sometimes requiring him to bring textbooks along to a competition. Tsz-fung's squash team leader, professors, and fellow students have all assisted in his quest, providing support and flexibility to enable him to schedule his classes and competitions.His major in Management Science has added further valuable insight by enabling him to develop a more rational approach to thinking and systematically manage his time, behaviour, and mindset. Squash also calls for physical strength. When he does not feel fit enough, logical thinking again helps him reason and identify solutions.
He now sees playing a squash match not unlike a game of chess. “My opponent and I are on the same chessboard, we are both players and pawn at the same time. The tricky part is how to use ‘yourself' to change your opponent's move,” he explained.
Handling injuries
A sportsperson's greatest obstacle is how to face up to being hurt and unable to train or play, according to Tsz-fung. “If you suffer an injury just when you need substantial practice, the most challenging aspect is tackling your mental attitude,” he said. How does he maintain his motivation? “Just keep telling yourself not to give up.”
Redefining success
Ranked 23rd in the world and 3rd in Hong Kong, Tsz-fung's stellar performances include winning a silver medal as a member of the Hong Kong men's team in the Asian Games and champion of the Macau Open Squash tournament. He thinks “success” encompasses many other elements, such as accomplishing a strenuous training programme and effectively managing the many different facets of a competition. “These are all learning processes, and success in such areas is even more important than winning or losing a game,” he said.Tsz-fung really enjoys match appearances in Hong Kong, which contribute to another aspect of his sporting career that he feels is especially important: encouraging younger players and promoting squash to a wider audience so that more people in the city take up and enjoy the game.
Squash star Yip Tsz-fung won a silver medal in the men's team event at the 2018 Asian Games and is ranked 23rd in the world.
現時世界排名23的葉梓豐近年贏得多個國際賽事，包括2018年亞運男子團體銀牌。
葉梓豐七歲時一次觀看哥哥練習中，哥哥的教練給他一支球拍和一個壁球解悶，自此踏上壁球運動員之路，更於2016年成為香港首位獲得世界大學生錦標賽男單冠軍的壁球手。
入讀城大助發展理性思維
葉梓豐獲得「學生運動員計劃」獎學金入讀城大工商管理系，他常要為訓練和學業奔波，甚至出外比賽時仍要帶上課本。在球隊領隊、老師及同學的支持下，他上課及練習的時間獲得彈性安排，能夠同時兼顧。他主修的管理科學，讓他處理自身問題時，能鍛煉出理性的思考模式，讓他學會有系統地管理時間，並調整自己的行為和心態。他表示壁球是一門體力化的運動，假如體能上有不足，他就會進一步分析，尋找當中原因，找出解決問題的方法。
他認為壁球像一盤棋子：「我們和對手在同一棋盤內，我既是弈棋者，同時也是棋子。如何好好運用『自己』以致去調動他人的步伐，這才是打壁球的巧妙之處。」
學習面對傷患
在多年的訓練中，葉梓豐認為最困難的是面對傷患。他說：「在最需要拚搏的時候受傷，心理質素是最難處理的，關鍵就是跟自己說不能放棄。」他坦言作為運動員，當然希望能夠勝出比賽，故在面對傷患時，激勵自己尤為重要。
「成功」的定義
葉梓豐現時世界排名23，香港排名第三，近年更贏得多個國際賽事，包括亞運男子團體銀牌及澳門壁球公開賽冠軍等。他對「成功」的定義有另一番體會︰「一個成功的過程包含多方面，例如如何看待自己的訓練和面對挑戰及如何處理在比賽時出現的各種情況等。在學習過程的成功較比賽上的贏輸更為重要。」葉梓豐特別享受在香港比賽，他希望能繼續做好自己，樹立一個好榜樣，影響新一代的運動員，讓更多人認識和喜歡壁球這項運動。
