The 2025 season of the Karate 1-Premier League tournament, one of the prestigious competitions of the World Karate Federation (WKF), has ended. The Grand Winners were also awarded by the official organization based on the results of the 4th stage held in Rabat, the capital of Morocco. For these reasons, the final stage of the prestigious tournament attracted more attention.
In the final round of the Karate1 Premier League tournament, the winner of the women’s kata competition was Lau Mo Sheung Grace (HKG), as in the previous two tournaments. Ono Maho (JPN), who defeated her opponent in the first round of the tournament held in January, could not get revenge from the Hong Kong representative in the last 3 rounds. It should be noted that the final matches of the 2025 season of the Premier League were held between these two athletes. With these results, the Hong Kong athlete won the Grand Winners award. Italian D Onofrio Terryana and local athlete En-Nesri Aya won bronze medals in the competition held in Rabat.
In the women’s 50 kg kumite final, Perfetto Erminia (ITA) defeated her Greek opponent Pappa Kristina Triada (GRE) to become the champion. Pefetto E. had previously taken third place in the Hangzhou tournament. Palashevska Yuliia (UKR) and Hubrich Shara (GER) won bronze medals. Zhangbyrbay Moldir (KAZ), who finished the season with gold, silver and bronze medals in this weight category, was eliminated by Perfetto.E in the Round Robin stage. However, this did not prevent her from receiving the Grand Winners award.
The gold medal in the women’s 55 kg weight category went to Toro Meneses Valentina (CHI), who defeated Ku Tsui-Ping (TPE) 3:1. Mukai Ruan (JPN) and Paris and Cairo Premier League bronze medalists Yakan Tuba (TUR) took third place again. The Grand Winners award in this weight category was presented to Goranova Ivet (BUL). She is also the bronze medalist of the Hangzhou tournament this season.
The winner of the women’s -61 kg competition was Semenenko Anastasia (GER). She defeated her more experienced rival, Brazilian Rodrigues Barbara, in the final. Sombe Tricya from France and Noursin Aly from Egypt took third place on the podium. The Grand Winners award in this weight category was given to Kanay Assel (KAZ), the finalist of the Paris and Cairo stages, as well as the third in Hangzhou.
In the -68 kg weight category, Sombe Thalya (FRA) repeated her result in Paris by taking first place. An exciting final match with Hendi Hadir of Egypt ended with a score of 3:2. In the bronze medal matches, Tsubasa Kama (JPN) and Sieliemienieva Elina (UKR) defeated Olympic medalists Abdelaziz Feryal (EGY) and Zaretska Iryna (AZE), respectively. Quirici Elena (SUI), who won bronze in Paris, silver in Hangzhou and was the champion in Cairo, was named the Big Winner of the season.
Torres Garcia Maria (ESP), who won the Paris Premier League in January, finished the season with another championship. In the final of the 68+ kg weight category, her opponent was Walters Rochelle (ENG), who finished third in Paris. The bronze medalists were Kydonaki Kyriaki (GRE), who achieved the only high result in the Premier League in 2025, and Gurung Arika (NEP), who won her country’s first Premier League medal with a determined fight. The Grand Winners award among women’s heavyweight athletes was won by Torres M., who, in addition to two golds, came third in Hangzhou this year.
Kakeru Nishiyama (JPN), who has won all four tournaments this season, is undoubtedly the Big Winner in men’s kata. His opponent in the finals of the last three tournaments, Torres Gutierrez Ariel (USA), also finished the season with a bronze medal in Paris. The other two Japanese kata athletes, Abe Sakichi and Ohata Kotaro, who finished third in Cairo, returned home with bronze medals.
Xenos Christos-Stefanos (GRE), who reached the finals of the first two stages of 2025 in the men’s -60 kg weight category, experienced the joy of becoming a champion this time. The famous athlete defeated Sordia Tsotne (GEO) 4:3 in the decisive match. Aly Zyad (EGY), the silver medalist of the Cairo stage of the tournament, and two-time champion Samdan Eray (TUR), won bronze medals. With two gold and one bronze medals won this season, Samdan E. also won the Grand Winners title.
In the men’s -67 kg final, Gaith Affef (JOR) won his first gold medal, while Kozaki Yugo (JPN) won a silver medal in his second final. Elsawy Ali (EGY) and Rzazade Nuran (AZE) won another bronze medal after the Hangzhou stage. Kozaki Y., who won the tournament held in Paris in January, won the Grand Winners medal for his results.
-75kg favorite and Cairo bronze medalist Abdelaziz Abadalla (EGY) won his third championship in Rabat and of course the Grand Winners award. His opponent in the final, Mahauden Quentin (BEL), finished the season with a silver medal. Zaplitniy Andrii (UKR), a finalist in the previous round of the Premier League, and Yurur Omar Faruk (TUR) took third place.
In the men’s -84 kg category, Aljafari Mohammad (JOR), who won silver medals in Paris and Cairo, won his third final match. His opponent Mastrogiannis Konstantinos (GRE) won his only medal of the season, silver. Martina Michele (ITA) and Sam Hamza (MAR) also won their only medals of 2025, bronze medals. The Grand Winners title in this weight category was won by Badawy Youssef (EGY), who had won the previous three rounds, despite losing to third place in the tournament in Rabat.
And finally, in the men’s heavyweight competition, Avanzini Matteo (ITA) took first place. Although he lost to local athlete Mahmoud Taha Tarek (EGY) in the final of the tournament held in Cairo in April, Avanzini M. took revenge on his opponent. However, this defeat did not prevent Mahmoud T., who won 2 gold and 1 bronze medals in previous competitions, from winning the Grand Winners award. In the 84+ kg weight class, Sagilyan Eduard (USA) and Tesanovic Djordje’s (SRB) bronze medals were their only awards this season.
Thus, the Karate 1-Premier League tournament, which was remembered for its interesting matches and lasted from January 24 to June 1, consisting of four stages in Paris, France, Hangzhou, China, Cairo, Egypt, and Rabat, Morocco, has come to an end.
Referees and officials gathered for the official Referee Briefing on the eve of the 2025 Karate 1-Premier League Rabat. The meeting was led by World Karate Federation (WKF) President Antonio Espinós, and the President of the Royal Moroccan Karate Federation, Mohamed Mouktabil, and managed by WKF Referee Commission Chairman Javier Escalante.
The session was held to review updates to competition rules and ensure all referees are aligned ahead of the event. It provided an opportunity to reinforce key points and address the latest adjustments introduced by the WKF.
In his address, Mr. Espinós underlined the steady progress made in refereeing within the WKF. He also spoke about the recent updates to the refereeing body, including the ongoing qualification process for the upcoming World Senior Championships.
“The WKF referees are the guarantees of fairness in our sport,” said WKF President Antonio Espinós. “Just as athletes train to be ready for the highest-level events, referees must be equally prepared to deliver fair, accurate decisions on the tatami. The work of the Referee Commission has been essential to maintaining this standard and supporting the progress of karate around the world.”
“I also want to acknowledge the efforts of the Moroccan Karate Federation and its president, Mohamed Mouktabil, in organising the brilliant Rabat event and for being a force for the progress of karate on the continent and around the world. With leaders like Mr Mouktabil, we can be sure that Karate has a bright future.”
WKF President Antonio Espinós addresses the audience of referees with WKF Referee Commission chair Javier Escalante, WKF Technical Commission chair Mohamed Elhosieny and Morocco Karate Federation president Mohamed Mouktabil in attendance.
The season’s finest karate athletes were celebrated in style at the Grand Winners Gala in Rabat, marking the end of the Karate 1-Premier League season. The prestigious event brought together top officials, athletes, and dignitaries to recognise the Best of the Best of the year in Karate 1-Premier League.
The gala was led by World Karate Federation (WKF) President Antonio Espinós and Royal Moroccan Karate Federation President Mohamed Mouktabil. Also present was Major General Ahmed Nasser Mohamed, President of the Union of Sport Confederations of Africa (UCSA), along with several prominent regional and international officials.
A total of 12 athletes were named Grand Winners for topping their categories at the end of the season. The Morocco Karate Federation, in collaboration with the WKF, delivered an excellent and high-class celebration of Karate to honour the 12 Grand Winners in each of the 12 categories.
The 2025 Grand Winners are:
· Female Kata: Mo Sheung Grace Lau (Hong Kong, China)
· Female Kumite -50kg: Moldir Zhangbyrbay (Kazakhstan)
· Female Kumite -55kg: Ivet Goranova (Bulgaria)
· Female Kumite -61kg: Assel Kanay (Kazakhstan)
· Female Kumite -68kg: Elena Quirici (Switzerland)
· Female Kumite +68kg: Maria Torres (Spain)
· Male Kata: Kakeru Nishiyama (Japan)
· Male Kumite -60kg: Eray Samdan (Türkiye)
· Male Kumite -67kg: Yugo Kozaki (Japan)
· Male Kumite -75kg: Abdalla Abdelaziz (Egypt)
· Male Kumite -84kg: Youssef Badawy (Egypt)
· Male Kumite +84kg: Mahmoud Taha (Egypt)
The awards were handed out by a top lineup of officials. Alongside WKF President Antonio Espinós, presenters included Royal Morocco Karate Federation President Mohamed Mouktabil, UCSA President Major General Ahmed Nasser Mohamed, WKF Assistant General Secretary Davor Cipek, WKF Executive Committee Member Davide Benetello, WKF Assistant Treasurer Souleymane Gaye, the president of the Communal Region of Rabat Dorwich Abdelaziz, the president of the Agricultural Organisation of Morocco Bochid Ben Ali, the president of the Karate Federation of Benin Rock Armel Quenum, the president of the Karate Federation of Mauritania Mohamed Tleimidi, and the president of the Karate Federation of Niger Souley Saminou.
WKF President Antonio Espinós praised the athletes for their achievements and spirit.
“Tonight, we honour not just champions but true ambassadors of our sport. The 12 Grand Winners have shown an outstanding demonstration of karate’s core values — respect, discipline, courage, and excellence. Their performances throughout the season have set the highest standard and proved why they stand at the very top of our sport. They are the perfect representatives of what karate means on and off the tatami.”
“I would also like to express my sincere gratitude to President Mohamed Mouktabil and his team of the Royal Karate Federation of Morocco for hosting this wonderful event. Mr Mouktabil’s dedication, leadership, and passion for karate are unmatched. President Mouktabil is not only the president of the Royal Morocco Karate Federation — he is the Royal Morocco Karate Federation. His tireless commitment continues to elevate karate in Morocco and across our international community.”
The gala closed a remarkable season for karate’s elite series of events, celebrating both athletic talent and the sport’s excellence around the world.
(Top picture: the 12 Grand Winners pose with WKF President Antonio Espinós (centre), Royal Morocco Karate Federation President Mohamed Mouktabil, and UCSA President Major General Ahmed Nasser Mohamed
Karate 1-Premier League LIVE From Rabat – WKF
Finalists Set on Day 2 at Karate 1-Premier League Rabat as Grand Winners Titles Take Shape – WKF
WKF President Leads Referee Briefing Ahead of Karate 1-Premier League Rabat – WKF
Karate’s Best of the Best Honoured at Magnificent Grand Winners Gala in Rabat – WKF
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