1st October 2026 – (Shanghai) A 21‑year‑old student from Hong Kong, Tai Hsin‑i of the Hong Kong Institute of Construction, has attracted widespread attention at the 48th WorldSkills Competition in Shanghai as the only woman contesting the Wall and Floor Tiling event. In a field traditionally dominated by men, she displayed measured technique and composure, cutting, setting out, laying and grouting with accuracy while maintaining immaculate alignment and level finishes.
Tai is studying for a Higher Diploma in Building Services Supervision and began tiling through craft courses, encouraged by her tutors to deepen her skills. After nearly a year of intensive training, she won Hong Kong’s 2025 selection in the Wall and Floor Tiling category, then took a year out from her studies to prepare for the international stage. She has described long days of practice spent squatting, kneeling and standing, with little time to sit, to build stamina and refine precision.
Under event rules, contestants are given about 22 hours across four days to complete three modules from technical drawings, including creative pattern work over almost seven square metres. Competitors must cut tiles with high precision, keep joints within one millimetre, ensure surfaces are level and free of hollow spots, and mix and apply materials correctly; Tai was observed hefting a 25‑kilogram bag of cement, opening and mixing it before application as part of her routine.
Speaking after her appearance, Tai said the attention brought added pressure but also motivation to perform, noting that she would work even harder to meet expectations. She credited her father, a plumbing and electrical worker, for encouraging her to pursue a less conventional path. From her performance, spectators and online audiences alike have praised both her craftsmanship and determination, seeing in her example the broader message that skill and dedication, rather than gender, define excellence in the trades.