The 2026 Karate One Premier League season reached its grand conclusion in Rabat, Morocco, from June 12 to 14, with the world’s leading karate athletes gathering for the final and most decisive event of the year. As the fourth and last stop of the season, following Istanbul, Rome and Leshan, the tournament in Rabat carried a special importance from the opening day. It was not only a competition for medals, but the final stage in the battle for the prestigious Grand Winner titles.
For three intense days, the Multipurpose Stadium Prince Moulay Abdellah became the centre of the international karate world. The event brought together 363 athletes from 56 countries, with registration limited to competitors ranked inside the top 100 in the WKF World Ranking. That restriction underlined the level of the tournament. Every category was filled with established champions, rising stars and athletes who had already proved themselves at the highest level of WKF competition.
Rabat has long held a special place in the Karate One Premier League. The Moroccan capital hosted Premier League events uninterruptedly from 2016 to 2019, returned to the calendar from 2022 to 2023, and again welcomed the series in 2025. In 2026, the city once again showed why it has become one of the most recognisable hosts in world karate. Morocco brought not only organisational experience and an enthusiastic audience, but also a national team capable of competing strongly against the very best.
The country is one of Africa’s major karate powers and entered the event with both pride and ambition. Morocco had finished second on the medal table at the most recent continental championships, and the home crowd in Rabat had every reason to expect strong performances from its athletes. Over the weekend, they were rewarded with memorable moments, most notably when Said Oubaya claimed gold in Male Kumite -67 kg in front of a passionate local audience.
But the wider story of Rabat 2026 was the completion of a season. The Karate One Premier League is the top international karate competition, gathering the world’s elite athletes across kata and kumite. To win a Premier League medal is already a major achievement. To finish the season as Grand Winner requires something more: consistency, endurance, tactical maturity and the ability to perform across several events, countries and opponents.
That made Rabat a tournament with two layers of drama. There were gold medals to win, but also season titles to settle. Some Grand Winners arrived in Morocco with the award already almost secured. Others needed one last result. In several categories, the decision came down to the final day. The result was a fitting end to a season defined by new stars, dominant champions, historic firsts and emotional breakthroughs.
The Final Stop After Istanbul, Rome and Leshan
The 2026 Premier League season began in Istanbul, where the new campaign opened with strong signals about the direction of the year. The Turkish event produced major storylines, including Sweden’s historic first Premier League gold through Agnes Nyman in Female Kumite -50 kg, and Morocco’s early-season success through Nisrine Brouk in Female Kumite -68 kg.
Rome then added another important chapter to the season, bringing the Premier League to Italy in an event that showcased the strength of European karate and the growing influence of Italian athletes. Leshan in China followed as the third stop, further shaping the standings before the final journey to Rabat.
By the time the athletes arrived in Morocco, the season had already created a complex picture. Some categories had clear leaders. Others were still open. Some athletes were chasing medals. Others were chasing history. In several divisions, one final bout could change the entire season ranking.
This is what gives the Grand Winner race its special character. A competitor may win one tournament and still fall short of the season title. Another may collect medals consistently and become the best athlete of the year without necessarily dominating every event. Rabat therefore became both a final tournament and a final examination of the entire season.
The format added further tactical depth. The eliminations were held under a round-robin system, giving athletes several matches in the early phase and rewarding consistency. The quarterfinals, semifinals and medal bouts then followed the knockout format, where one mistake could end a gold-medal campaign. This combination demanded both long-term control and the ability to deliver in decisive moments.
Friday and Saturday were dedicated to eliminations, with long competition days running from morning until evening. Sunday brought the bronze medal bouts and finals in two sessions, creating a full day of medal decisions and Grand Winner confirmations. For fans watching live in Rabat or following through the WKF YouTube channel, the event offered a complete picture of elite modern karate.
Japan Tops the Medal Table
One of the clearest headlines from Rabat was Japan’s strength. The Japanese team finished at the top of the medal table with three gold medals and twelve medals in total. The gold medals came through Aika Okazaki in Female Kumite -50 kg, Rina Kodo in Female Kumite -55 kg and Kakeru Nishiyama in Male Kata.
Japan’s success was not only about the titles. It was about depth. Several categories featured more than one Japanese athlete on the podium, and the team showed strength across both kata and kumite. In a Premier League event where every participant belongs to the international elite, such consistency is a powerful statement.
Kakeru Nishiyama once again stood at the centre of Japan’s success. The reigning world and continental champion continued his extraordinary run in Male Kata, defeating fellow Japanese athlete Kotaro Ohata 7-0 in the final. The victory extended one of the most remarkable winning streaks in the sport and secured his fifth consecutive Grand Winner title.
Nishiyama’s dominance has become one of the defining stories of modern kata. His performances are built on technical sharpness, rhythm, power and the calm authority of an athlete used to competing under pressure. Even with years of success behind him, he has continued to speak about development and improvement, showing the mentality that has kept him at the top.
Japan also celebrated breakthrough and return victories in women’s kumite. Aika Okazaki defeated Venezuela’s Yorgelis Salazar 1-0 in the Female Kumite -50 kg final, claiming the first Karate One Premier League gold medal of her career. The result was especially significant because Salazar had already been confirmed as Grand Winner in the category. Okazaki’s victory therefore came against one of the strongest and most consistent athletes of the season.
In Female Kumite -55 kg, Rina Kodo defeated Jennifer Warling of Luxembourg 6-1 in the final. The Japanese athlete controlled the bout with confidence and precision, securing her second Premier League title and her first since Hangzhou. With Okazaki, Kodo and Nishiyama all taking gold, Japan left Rabat with the strongest overall team performance of the event.
Grace Lau Completes a Perfect Premier League Season
Female Kata once again belonged to Mo Sheung Grace Lau of Hong Kong, China. Lau defeated Japan’s Maho Ono 6-1 in the final, confirming her status as the leading athlete in the division and completing a perfect Premier League season.
The reigning world and continental champion arrived in Rabat with the Grand Winner title within reach and immediately delivered the performance required. She topped her pool and advanced through the rounds with the control and authority that have defined her recent career. Her victory in the final gave her gold in all four Premier League events she entered during the season: Istanbul, Rome, Leshan and Rabat.
Lau also retained the Grand Winner crown in Female Kata for a second consecutive year. Her own words after securing the title reflected both emotion and perspective. She spoke about belief, pressure and the journey from once doubting whether she could reach this level to becoming one of the most dominant athletes in the world.
Her success is especially meaningful in a category where Japan has traditionally been extremely strong. By defeating Japanese opposition and maintaining her winning streak, Lau has established herself not merely as a champion, but as one of the central figures of the current era in kata.
Grand Winners Decide the Season
The Grand Winner titles gave Rabat much of its special tension. In total, twelve athletes were honoured as the best performers of the season in their respective categories. Some confirmed their titles early in the weekend. Others had to wait until the final day.
Grace Lau retained the Female Kata crown, while Kakeru Nishiyama secured his fifth consecutive Grand Winner title in Male Kata. Both athletes represented continuity at the highest level. Their dominance across the season left little doubt about their place at the top.
In Female Kumite -50 kg, Yorgelis Salazar of Venezuela reclaimed the Grand Winner title, adding a third career Grand Winner award to her record. Although she lost the Rabat final to Aika Okazaki, her overall season had already been strong enough to place her at the top of the standings.
Female Kumite -55 kg produced a historic moment for Bosnia and Herzegovina. Nejra Sipovic became the first karateka from her country to win a Karate One Premier League Grand Winner title. Her season included gold in Rome and bronze in Leshan, and her consistency proved decisive in Rabat. The emotional weight of the achievement was clear, as Sipovic described how she had once watched the Grand Winners Gala and imagined that one day she might stand among the honoured athletes herself.
In Female Kumite -61 kg, Sarara Shimada of Japan secured her first Grand Winner title after a season that included gold in Rome and bronze medals in Istanbul and Leshan. Even though she did not reach the Rabat final, her overall campaign was enough to crown her as the best athlete of the year in the category.
Female Kumite -68 kg was one of the categories where the race remained alive until the final day. Ukraine’s Elina Sieliemienieva needed a bronze medal in Rabat to secure the season title, and she delivered under pressure by defeating Eda Eltemur of Türkiye 2-0. With bronze in Rome, silver in Leshan and bronze in Rabat, she completed a season built on consistency and resilience.
In Female Kumite +68 kg, Sofya Berultseva of Kazakhstan had already placed herself in control before Rabat after winning gold in Istanbul, Rome and Leshan. Her Grand Winner title was the result of a dominant campaign. She had set the award as a major goal from the beginning of the year and achieved it before the final event had even concluded.
On the men’s side, Christian Sabatino of Italy produced one of the most remarkable Grand Winner stories of the season in Male Kumite -60 kg. At only 21 years old, he arrived in Rabat needing gold to overtake the standings leader. He did exactly that, defeating Egypt’s Zyad Elgharib Aly in the final and turning a 780-point deficit into the biggest achievement of his young career.
In Male Kumite -67 kg, Luca Maresca of Italy claimed the Grand Winner title after a consistent season featuring bronze medals in Istanbul and Rome, silver in Leshan and another bronze in Rabat. His campaign was a lesson in the value of steady podium performances across the entire circuit.
Male Kumite -75 kg belonged to Belgium’s Quentin Mahauden in the season standings. The Belgian secured his second career Grand Winner title after previously winning the award in 2023. His silver medal in Rome and bronze in Leshan helped build the platform for his return to the top of the category.
In Male Kumite -84 kg, Mohammad Aljafari of Jordan reclaimed the Grand Winner title by winning gold in Rabat. He entered the final event knowing that only a gold medal would be enough. By defeating Egypt’s Youssef Badawy 5-3 in the final, he secured both the tournament victory and the season crown by the narrowest of margins.
Finally, Male Kumite +84 kg saw Rodrigo Rojas of Chile claim the Grand Winner title after a powerful season. The five-time continental champion had won Premier League gold in Istanbul and Leshan and arrived in Rabat with the momentum required to complete his chase for the award. For Rojas, the title represented the fulfilment of a goal he had pursued for many years.
Morocco Celebrates Home Gold Through Said Oubaya
For the home nation, the defining sporting moment came in Male Kumite -67 kg, where Said Oubaya defeated Jordan’s Ghaith Afeef 7-6 in one of the most exciting finals of the weekend. The match was fast, close and emotionally charged, with both athletes exchanging scores and the Moroccan crowd pushing Oubaya forward until the final seconds.
The victory gave Oubaya his fifth Karate One Premier League title and offered Morocco a golden highlight on home soil. Home victories at this level carry a special meaning. They are personal achievements, but they also belong to the national team, the federation, the spectators and the young athletes watching from the stands.
Morocco’s performance extended beyond Oubaya. Sawsane Benchbab reached the Female Kumite -61 kg final, where she faced France’s Monica Arzumian in a dramatic bout. Benchbab narrowly lost 7-6, but her silver medal gave the Moroccan team another important result. Ahmed Haddadi also impressed in Male Kumite -60 kg, reaching the semifinals before later taking bronze, while Mehdi Sriti added another podium finish for the host nation in Male Kumite -84 kg.
Together, those results confirmed Morocco’s strength as both host and competitor. The nation continues to be one of the key forces in African karate and a regular presence in the medal fights at Premier League level.
Italy’s Strong Finish in Rabat
Italy also enjoyed a highly successful weekend in Rabat, finishing with two gold medals and several podium finishes. Christian Sabatino’s gold in Male Kumite -60 kg and Clio Ferracuti’s title in Female Kumite +68 kg gave Italy two of the strongest individual stories of the event.
Sabatino’s rise was extraordinary. Before the season, he had never won a medal at an international event. In Istanbul, he captured bronze. In Rabat, he reached his first Premier League final and won gold when only that result could secure the Grand Winner title. His final against Zyad Elgharib Aly ended 4-1 according to the official event summary, and it gave the Italian both his first Premier League title and his first Grand Winner award.
Ferracuti’s gold in Female Kumite +68 kg was emotional for a different reason. She had previously lost six Karate One Premier League finals and collected six silver medals without reaching the top step of the podium. In Rabat, she finally changed that story. Her 11-2 victory over England’s Rochelle Walters was one of the most decisive finals of the day and gave her the breakthrough that had long been within reach.
Luca Maresca added another major Italian success by winning the Grand Winner title in Male Kumite -67 kg. Although he did not win the Rabat gold, his season-long consistency was rewarded with one of the most prestigious honours in the Premier League. Italy’s results in Rabat reflected a national team with depth, momentum and athletes capable of performing in the most decisive moments of the season.
Breakthroughs and Established Champions
Rabat 2026 was also a tournament of contrast between new names and established champions.
Monica Arzumian of France produced one of the most remarkable breakthroughs by winning Female Kumite -61 kg. At only 18 years old, she defeated Morocco’s Sawsane Benchbab 7-6 in the final and claimed her first Karate One Premier League title. It was also her first international title, making the victory a major milestone in her young career.
Ernest Sharafutdinov, competing under the WKF-1 flag, also achieved a breakthrough in Male Kumite -75 kg. He defeated Georgia’s Valiko Poniava 8-0 in the final, delivering one of the most dominant performances of the medal day and winning the first Premier League gold of his career.
At the same time, Rabat saw established stars continue to build their legacies. Iryna Zaretska of Azerbaijan won Female Kumite -68 kg after a scoreless final against Japan’s Tsubasa Kama that was decided by hantei. The victory gave Zaretska her 14th Karate One Premier League gold medal, extending one of the most impressive records in the sport.
Andjelo Kvesic of Croatia won Male Kumite +84 kg by defeating Egypt’s Ahmed Elmasry 6-2 in the final. The experienced Croatian used his control and tactical maturity to secure the third Premier League title of his career, adding another major result to a strong season that had also included a European Championship bronze medal.
Mohammad Aljafari’s victory in Male Kumite -84 kg was another defining moment. His rivalry with Youssef Badawy has become one of the most compelling in international karate, and their Rabat final once again delivered high-level kumite. Aljafari’s 5-3 victory secured his sixth Premier League title and returned him to the position of Grand Winner, a distinction he had last held in 2023.
The Grand Winners Gala Closes the Season
After the final medals were awarded, Rabat hosted the Grand Winners Gala, the ceremonial conclusion to the Karate One Premier League season. The gala brought together the athletes recognised as the “Best of the Best” across the twelve categories and celebrated the values that define karate: excellence, respect, perseverance and international unity.
The Grand Winner concept has become one of the most important symbols of the modern Premier League. It rewards not only a single great day, but a full season of performance. Athletes must travel, adapt, recover, manage pressure and prove themselves against the best opponents in the world across multiple events.
In Rabat, that recognition carried special weight because so many titles were decided during the final tournament. For some athletes, the gala marked the confirmation of dominance. For others, it was a dream achieved for the first time. For all of them, it represented a place among the leading karateka of the 2026 season.
The ceremony also reinforced Rabat’s role as a trusted and prestigious host of international karate. Morocco has repeatedly shown that it can deliver not only high-level competition, but also events that celebrate the wider culture and dignity of the sport.
A Fitting End to the 2026 Premier League Season
When the final day ended, the 2026 Karate One Premier League had its champions, its Grand Winners and its defining stories.
Japan topped the medal table with depth and quality. Grace Lau and Kakeru Nishiyama continued to dominate kata. Christian Sabatino and Monica Arzumian showed how quickly new stars can rise. Said Oubaya gave Morocco a home victory to remember. Clio Ferracuti finally turned years of silver medals into gold. Mohammad Aljafari delivered under maximum pressure. Elina Sieliemienieva, Nejra Sipovic, Sarara Shimada, Sofya Berultseva, Quentin Mahauden, Luca Maresca and Rodrigo Rojas all completed season-long journeys to Grand Winner recognition.
Rabat was therefore more than the final event on the calendar. It was the place where a season came together. The tournament carried the drama of individual finals, the tension of season standings, the emotion of home support and the prestige of the Grand Winners Gala.
From Istanbul to Rome, from Leshan to Rabat, the 2026 Karate One Premier League season showed the full strength of international karate. It was a season of established champions and young challengers, of national breakthroughs and personal comebacks, of technical excellence and emotional victories.
In Morocco, the final chapter gave the season the ending it deserved. The world’s best karate athletes met on one stage, the last medals were decided, the Grand Winners were honoured, and Rabat once again confirmed its place as one of the great homes of Karate One Premier League competition.
All You Need to Know About Karate One Premier League Rabat – WKF
Watch Day 1 of Karate One Premier League Rabat LIVE! – WKF
Grand Winner Race Takes Centre Stage on Opening Day of Karate One Premier League Rabat – WKF
Last Finalists Set as Grand Winner Race Reaches Its Peak at Karate One Rabat – WKF
Christian Sabatino Completes Remarkable Comeback to Secure Grand Winner Title – WKF
Grand Winners Crowned as Spectacular Karate One Premier League Season Ends in Rabat – WKF
Grand Winners Gala Celebrates the Best of the Best of Karate One Premier League in Rabat – WKF
Karate One Series A A Coruña 2026
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