Rabat, Morocco – May 31, 2025 — Day 2 of the Karate1 Premier League Rabat 2025 delivered high-octane action as the final spots for the gold and bronze medal matches were secured. With qualification phases now complete, anticipation rises for Sunday’s medal bouts — where the sport’s elite will battle for glory, pride, and the prestigious Grand Winnerstitles.
The energy at Salle Moulay Abdellah was electric throughout Saturday as fans witnessed some of the fiercest matchups of the season. As the competition enters its final stage, Morocco’s capital prepares to crown champions across 12 categories.
🥇 Finals – Sunday, June 1st
The final day will feature 12 gold medal bouts, including the much-awaited Female Kata showdown between Japan’s Maho Ono and Hong Kong’s Grace Lau, both unbeaten this season. In Male Kata, USA’s Ariel Torres Gutierrez will face Japan’s Kakeru Nishiyama, promising a classic East-meets-West duel.
Here are all the finalists:
- Female Kata: Maho Ono (JPN) vs Mo Sheung Grace Lau (HKG)
- Male Kata: Ariel Torres Gutierrez (USA) vs Kakeru Nishiyama (JPN)
- Male Kumite -60kg: Christos-Stefanos Xenos (GRE) vs Tsotne Sordia (GEO)
- Female Kumite -50kg: Christina Triada Pappa (GRE) vs Erminia Perfetto (ITA)
- Male Kumite -67kg: Yugo Kozaki (JPN) vs Afeef Ghaith (JOR)
- Female Kumite -55kg: Tsui-Ping Ku (TPE) vs Valentina Toro Meneses (CHI)
- Male Kumite -75kg: Quentin Mahauden (BEL) vs Abdalla Abdelaziz (EGY)
- Female Kumite -61kg: Anastasiia Semenenko (GER) vs Barbara Rodrigues (BRA)
- Male Kumite -84kg: Konstantinos Mastrogiannis (GRE) vs Mohammad Aljafari (JOR)
- Female Kumite -68kg: Hadir Hendy (EGY) vs Thalya Sombe (FRA)
- Male Kumite +84kg: Matteo Avanzini (ITA) vs Taha Tarek Mahmoud (EGY)
- Female Kumite +68kg: Rochelle Walters (ENG) vs Maria Torres Garcia (ESP)
🥉 Bronze Medal Matches: A Global Mix of Talent
Before the finals, the bronze medal bouts will highlight a wide representation of nations and styles. Host country Morocco will be featured in multiple fights, including Hamza Sam in the Men’s -84kg and Aya En-Nesyry in Female Kata, bringing the home crowd energy into the final day.
Other notable matchups include:
- All-Japan showdowns in Male Kata
- A heavyweight duel between Eduard Sagilyan (USA) and Fumiya Yoshimura (JPN) in +84kg
- France’s Clémence Pea and Nepal’s Arika Gurung battling for bronze in Female +68kg
- Reigning champions like Feryal Abdelaziz (EGY) and Iryna Zaretska (AZE) contending in -68kg
A Grand Stage Awaits
With 360 athletes from 63 countries taking part in this final Premier League event of the season, Rabat 2025 has already delivered on intensity, surprises, and international flair. But the biggest rewards are yet to come — as Sunday not only crowns medalists but also reveals the Grand Winners of 2025, the ultimate honor for season-long excellence.
The atmosphere in Rabat is set to be electric. As the final day dawns, the Karate world will be watching.