Dai Xinyi draws attention as sole female tiler at WorldSkills

Dai Xinyi, a 21-year-old student from the Hong Kong Institute of Building, has drawn significant attention at the 48th WorldSkills Competition in Shanghai. As the sole female competitor in the tiling category—a field traditionally dominated by men—she has become a focal point of the event.

To prepare for the competition, Dai took a one-year leave of absence from her studies after winning the Hong Kong representative selection trials. The competition requires participants to complete approximately 7 square meters of patterned tiling within 22 hours over a four-day period. The process involves interpreting blueprints, creative design, marking, cutting, mixing mortar, laying tiles, and grouting.

The technical standards are exceptionally high, requiring tile joints to be controlled within 1 millimeter and ensuring the surface is perfectly level without hollow spots. The task is physically demanding, requiring the handling of 25-kilogram cement bags, and demands extreme precision and focus.