Rabat, June 2, 2025 — The Karate1 Premier League came to an electrifying close this weekend in Rabat, Morocco, as new champions emerged and the season’s best performers were officially honored with the prestigious Grand Winnertitles. From consistent medalists to surprise breakthroughs, this final event not only delivered thrilling action but also cemented the names of karate’s elite in the sport’s global history.
🌟 The 2025 Grand Winners – The Best of the Season
| Category | Grand Winner 2025 | Country |
|---|---|---|
| Female Kata | Mo Sheung Grace Lau | 🇭🇰 Hong Kong |
| Male Kata | Kakeru Nishiyama | 🇯🇵 Japan |
| Female Kumite -50 kg | Moldir Zhangbyrbay | 🇰🇿 Kazakhstan |
| Female Kumite -55 kg | Ivet Goranova | 🇧🇬 Bulgaria |
| Female Kumite -61 kg | Assel Kanay | 🇰🇿 Kazakhstan |
| Female Kumite -68 kg | Elena Quirici | 🇨🇭 Switzerland |
| Female Kumite +68 kg | Maria Torres Garcia | 🇪🇸 Spain |
| Male Kumite -60 kg | Eray Samdan | 🇹🇷 Türkiye |
| Male Kumite -67 kg | Yugo Kozaki | 🇯🇵 Japan |
| Male Kumite -75 kg | Abdalla Abdelaziz | 🇪🇬 Egypt |
| Male Kumite -84 kg | Youssef Badawy | 🇪🇬 Egypt |
| Male Kumite +84 kg | Taha Tarek Mahmoud | 🇪🇬 Egypt |
🔥 What Made Rabat 2025 Special
The Rabat event was more than just the final stop—it was the arena for defining moments:
- 🥇 Mo Sheung Grace Lau (HKG) claimed gold in Female Kata and sealed her Grand Winner title with three event wins this season.
- 🥇 Kakeru Nishiyama (JPN) completed a flawless kata season, winning all four events and defending his title for a third consecutive year.
- 🥇 Erminia Perfetto (ITA), Afeef Ghaith (JOR), and Matteo Avanzini (ITA) stood out as breakout gold medalists, though not Grand Winners, proving the depth and competitiveness of the field.
- 🥇 Abdalla Abdelaziz (EGY) and Maria Torres Garcia (ESP) showed unrivaled consistency, defending their Grand Winner crowns and asserting long-term dominance in their divisions.
📜 Legacy and Looking Ahead
The 2025 Grand Winners represent a compelling blend of experience, resilience, and emerging talent. Athletes like Eray Samdan, Elena Quirici, and Ivet Goranova reaffirmed their positions as world-class competitors, while Kazakhstan’s rising stars Moldir Zhangbyrbay and Assel Kanay delivered strong, consistent seasons to top their categories.
As the Karate1 Premier League season wraps up, the karate world shifts focus toward the World Championships and future major events, where these Grand Winners will aim to extend their reign.
The Rabat finale wasn’t just a competition — it was the crowning moment of a global journey across four continents, 63 nations, and hundreds of elite athletes. And now, 12 Grand Winners carry the honor of being karate’s best in 2025.
History of Grand Winner
🏆 Grand Winners 2024
| Catégorie | Grand Winner 2024 |
|---|---|
| Kata Féminin | Maho Ono (JPN) |
| Kata Masculin | Kakeru Nishiyama (JPN) |
| Kumite Féminin -50 kg | Moldir Zhangbyrbay (KAZ) |
| Kumite Féminin -55 kg | Valentina Toro Meneses (CHI) |
| Kumite Féminin -61 kg | Reem Khamis (GER) |
| Kumite Féminin -68 kg | Elena Quirici (SUI) |
| Kumite Féminin +68 kg | María Torres García (ESP) |
| Kumite Masculin -60 kg | Hiromu Hashimoto (JPN) |
| Kumite Masculin -67 kg | Said Oubaya (MAR) |
| Kumite Masculin -75 kg | Abdalla Abdelaziz (EGY) |
| Kumite Masculin -84 kg | Daniyar Yuldashev (KAZ) |
| Kumite Masculin +84 kg | Taha Tarek Mahmoud (EGY) |
🏆 Grand Winners 2023
| Catégorie | Grand Winner 2023 |
|---|---|
| Kata Féminin | Hikaru Ono (JPN) |
| Kata Masculin | Kakeru Nishiyama (JPN) |
| Kumite Féminin -50 kg | Yorgelis Salazar (VEN) |
| Kumite Féminin -55 kg | Anzhelika Terliuga (UKR) |
| Kumite Féminin -61 kg | Reem Khamis (GER) |
| Kumite Féminin -68 kg | Elena Quirici (SUI) |
| Kumite Féminin +68 kg | Ayumi Uekusa (JPN) |
| Kumite Masculin -60 kg | Hiromu Hashimoto (JPN) |
| Kumite Masculin -67 kg | Abdel Rahman Almasatfa (JOR) |
| Kumite Masculin -75 kg | Quentin Mahauden (BEL) |
| Kumite Masculin -84 kg | Mohammad Aljafari (JOR) |
| Kumite Masculin +84 kg | Ryzvan Talibov (UKR) |
🏆 Grand Winners 2022
| Catégorie | Grand Winner 2022 |
|---|---|
| Kata Féminin | Hikaru Ono (JPN) |
| Kata Masculin | Kakeru Nishiyama (JPN) |
| Kumite Féminin -50 kg | Yorgelis Salazar (VEN) |
| Kumite Féminin -55 kg | Anzhelika Terliuga (UKR) |
| Kumite Féminin -61 kg | Anita Serogina (UKR) |
| Kumite Féminin -68 kg | Irina Zaretska (AZE) |
| Kumite Féminin +68 kg | Ayaka Saito (JPN) |
| Kumite Masculin -60 kg | Aminagha Guliyev (AZE) |
| Kumite Masculin -67 kg | Dionysios Xenos (GRE) |
| Kumite Masculin -75 kg | Abdalla Abdelaziz (EGY) |
| Kumite Masculin -84 kg | Mohamed Ramadan (EGY) |
| Kumite Masculin +84 kg | Taha Tarek Mahmoud (EGY) |
🏆 Grand Winners 2020–2021
| Catégorie | Grand Winner 2020–2021 |
|---|---|
| Kata Féminin | Sandra Sánchez (ESP) |
| Kata Masculin | Damian Quintero (ESP) |
| Kumite Féminin -50 kg | Serap Özçelik Arapoğlu (TUR) |
| Kumite Féminin -55 kg | Anzhelika Terliuga (UKR) |
| Kumite Féminin -61 kg | Merve Çoban (TUR) |
| Kumite Féminin -68 kg | Feryal Abdelaziz (EGY) |
| Kumite Féminin +68 kg | Meltem Hocaoğlu Akyol (TUR) |
| Kumite Masculin -60 kg | Angelo Crescenzo (ITA) |
| Kumite Masculin -67 kg | Ali Elsawy (EGY) |
| Kumite Masculin -75 kg | Luigi Busà (ITA) |
| Kumite Masculin -84 kg | Zabiollah Poorshab (IRI) |
| Kumite Masculin +84 kg | Gogita Arkania (GEO) |
🏆 Grand Winners 2015
| Catégorie | Grand Winner 2015 |
|---|---|
| Kumite Féminin -55 kg | Valeria Kumizaki (BRA) |
| Kumite Féminin -61 kg | Ingrida Suchánková (SVK) |
| Kumite Féminin -68 kg | Alisa Buchinger (AUT) |
| Kumite Féminin +68 kg | Maša Martinović (CRO) |
| Kumite Masculin -60 kg | Amir Mehdizadeh (IRI) |
| Kumite Masculin -67 kg | Andrés Madera (VEN) |
| Kumite Masculin -75 kg | Rafael Aghayev (AZE) |
| Kumite Masculin -84 kg | Ryutaro Araga (JPN) |
| Kumite Masculin +84 kg | Jonathan Horne (GER) |