The 2025 Karate 1-Premier League season kicked off in style this week in Paris, France, as the world’s best karate athletes gathered for the first flagship event of the year. Held from January 24-26 at the iconic Pierre de Coubertin sports hall, the Karate 1-Premier League Paris once again proved why it is one of the most anticipated events in international karate.
A Global Stage for Karate Excellence
The Karate 1-Premier League is the pinnacle of international karate competition, attracting top athletes from around the globe. This year’s Paris event saw nearly 400 athletes from 70 countries competing for glory, showcasing the sport’s global appeal and competitive spirit. The powerhouse nations of Italy, Japan, and Türkiye led the charge, with Italy fielding the largest delegation of 35 athletes, followed by Japan with 29 and Türkiye with 25.
Japan Dominates the Podium
Japan, the birthplace of karate, reaffirmed its dominance in the sport by topping the medal table with an impressive 10 medals, including 4 golds. Their athletes shone across multiple categories, particularly in Kata, where Ono Maho claimed gold in Female Kata, and Nishiyama Kakeru triumphed in Male Kata. Japan’s consistent excellence highlights their deep-rooted mastery of the sport.
Egypt also made a strong statement, securing 4 gold medals, all in the Kumite divisions. Athletes like Abdelaziz Abdalla (Male Kumite -75 kg) and Mahmoud Taha Tarek (Male Kumite 84+ kg) demonstrated Egypt’s growing prowess in the sport, solidifying their position as a rising force in international karate.
Highlights from the Competition
The tournament delivered thrilling performances across all categories. Here are some standout moments:
- Female Kumite -50 kg: Iran’s Sara Bahmanyar and Masoumeh Mohsenian secured gold and silver, respectively, showcasing their country’s strength in the lighter weight divisions.
- Male Kumite -67 kg: Japan’s Yugo Kozaki claimed gold, while Türkiye’s Omer Abdurrahim Ozer took silver, highlighting the intense rivalry between these two karate powerhouses.
- Female Kumite -68 kg: France’s Thalya Sombe delighted the home crowd with a gold medal performance, adding to the excitement of the event.
The Road Ahead: 2025 Karate 1-Premier League Season
The Paris event marks the beginning of an exciting season for the Karate 1-Premier League. The series will now travel to:
- Hangzhou, China (March 14-16)
- Cairo, Egypt (April 18-20)
- Rabat, Morocco (May 30-June 1)
Each stop promises to bring its own unique flavor and challenges, as athletes continue their quest for glory and qualification points for the World Individual Championships, which will also be held in Paris from October 17-19.
Paris: A Historic Venue for Karate
Paris has long been a cornerstone of international karate, hosting the Karate 1-Premier League since its inception in 2011 (with a brief hiatus from 2021 to 2023). The Pierre de Coubertin sports hall has become synonymous with karate excellence, and this year’s event once again lived up to its reputation as a premier destination for the sport.
Looking Forward
As the 2025 season unfolds, the Karate 1-Premier League continues to elevate the sport to new heights. With fierce competition, emerging talents, and the unwavering support of fans worldwide, karate’s future looks brighter than ever. Stay tuned for more action as the season progresses, and don’t miss the next stop in Hangzhou, China!
Medal Table Summary (Top 5 Countries):
- Japan: 4 Gold, 2 Silver, 4 Bronze (10 Total)
- Egypt: 4 Gold, 0 Silver, 1 Bronze (5 Total)
- Türkiye: 1 Gold, 1 Silver, 2 Bronze (4 Total)
- Iran: 1 Gold, 1 Silver, 1 Bronze (3 Total)
- France: 1 Gold, 0 Silver, 1 Bronze (2 Total)
Country Medal Ranking
| Rank |
Country |
Gold |
Silver |
Bronze |
Total Medals |
| 1 |
Japan |
4 |
2 |
4 |
10 |
| 2 |
Egypt |
4 |
0 |
1 |
5 |
| 3 |
Türkiye |
1 |
1 |
2 |
4 |
| 4 |
Iran |
1 |
1 |
1 |
3 |
| 5 |
France |
1 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
| 5 |
Spain |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
| 7 |
Kazakhstan |
0 |
2 |
3 |
5 |
| 8 |
Greece |
0 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
| 9 |
Canada |
0 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
| 9 |
Montenegro |
0 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
| 9 |
Jordan |
0 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
| 9 |
Bosnia and Herzegovina |
0 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
| 9 |
Hong Kong, China |
0 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
| 14 |
United States |
0 |
0 |
2 |
2 |
| 14 |
Morocco |
0 |
0 |
2 |
2 |
| 16 |
Switzerland |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
| 16 |
Brazil |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
| 16 |
Latvia |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
| 16 |
Venezuela |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
| 16 |
England |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
| 16 |
Curaçao |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
| 16 |
Ukraine |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
Key Observations:
- Japan dominates with 10 medals (4 golds), followed by Egypt with 4 golds.
- Türkiye and Iran round out the top 5 with strong performances in kumite.
- Kazakhstan has the most total medals (5) among non-gold-winning nations.
- Several countries earned their first medals in this competition (e.g., Curaçao, Ukraine, Venezuela).
Female Kata
| Medal |
Name |
Country |
| Gold |
ONO MAHO |
Japan |
| Silver |
LAU MO SHEUNG GRACE |
Hong Kong, China |
| Bronze |
MISHIMA KIRI |
Japan |
| Bronze |
AZUMA SAEKO |
Japan |
Female Kumite -50 kg
| Medal |
Name |
Country |
| Gold |
BAHMANYAR SARA |
Islamic Republic of Iran |
| Silver |
MOHSENIAN MASOUMEH |
Islamic Republic of Iran |
| Bronze |
ZHANGBYRBAY MOLDIR |
Kazakhstan |
| Bronze |
SALAZAR YORGELIS |
Venezuela |
Female Kumite -55 kg
| Medal |
Name |
Country |
| Gold |
YOUSSEF AHLAM |
Egypt |
| Silver |
FURUMOTO-DESHAIES HANA |
Canada |
| Bronze |
YAKAN TUBA |
Türkiye |
| Bronze |
ALLEN TRINITY |
United States |
Female Kumite -61 kg
| Medal |
Name |
Country |
| Gold |
SHIMADA SARARA |
Japan |
| Silver |
KANAY ASSEL |
Kazakhstan |
| Bronze |
GIRVICA BEATA |
Latvia |
| Bronze |
YVON SYDNEY |
France |
Female Kumite -68 kg
| Medal |
Name |
Country |
| Gold |
SOMBE THALYA |
France |
| Silver |
KAMA TSUBASA |
Japan |
| Bronze |
QUIRICI ELENA |
Switzerland |
| Bronze |
ELTEMUR EDA |
Türkiye |
Female Kumite 68+ kg
| Medal |
Name |
Country |
| Gold |
TORRES GARCIA MARIA |
Spain |
| Silver |
BERULTSEVA SOFYA |
Kazakhstan |
| Bronze |
WALTERS ROCHELLE |
England |
| Bronze |
EDDARHRI MAROUA |
Morocco |
Male Kata
| Medal |
Name |
Country |
| Gold |
NISHIYAMA KAKERU |
Japan |
| Silver |
MACHIDA YASUHIRO |
Japan |
| Bronze |
MOTO KAZUMASA |
Japan |
| Bronze |
TORRES GUTIERREZ ARIEL |
United States |
Male Kumite -60 kg
| Medal |
Name |
Country |
| Gold |
SAMDAN ERAY |
Türkiye |
| Silver |
XENOS CHRISTOS-STEFANOS |
Greece |
| Bronze |
ALPYSBAY KAISAR |
Kazakhstan |
| Bronze |
MESKINI ALI |
Islamic Republic of Iran |
Male Kumite -67 kg
| Medal |
Name |
Country |
| Gold |
KOZAKI YUGO |
Japan |
| Silver |
OZER OMER ABDURRAHIM |
Türkiye |
| Bronze |
FIGUEIRA VINICIUS |
Brazil |
| Bronze |
BALIOTIS GEORGIOS |
Greece |
Male Kumite -75 kg
| Medal |
Name |
Country |
| Gold |
ABDELAZIZ ABDALLA |
Egypt |
| Silver |
MIKULIC NEMANJA |
Montenegro |
| Bronze |
RAHOZENKO ERIK |
Ukraine |
| Bronze |
ABDELGAWAD ABDALLA HESHAM |
Egypt |
Male Kumite -84 kg
| Medal |
Name |
Country |
| Gold |
BADAWY YOUSSEF |
Egypt |
| Silver |
ALJAFARI MOHAMMAD |
Jordan |
| Bronze |
ETO JUNYA |
Japan |
| Bronze |
SRITI MEHDI |
Morocco |
Male Kumite 84+ kg
| Medal |
Name |
Country |
| Gold |
MAHMOUD TAHA TAREK |
Egypt |
| Silver |
BOSTANDZIC ANES |
Bosnia and Herzegovina |
| Bronze |
ANARBEKOV DIAS |
Kazakhstan |
| Bronze |
TIMMERMANS ROB |
Curaçao |
