New finalists emerge in Rabat
New finalists emerge as Grand Winners shine on the second day at the Karate 1 Premier League's last stage in Rabat, Morocco.
Both Anastasia Semenenko (GER) and Barbara Rodrigues (BRA) secured their first-ever Female Kumite 61kg Premier League final. Kazakhstan's Assel Kanay secured the 2025 Grand Winner title with 2070 points.
Thalya Sombe (FRA) is looking for her third Premier League gold medal of the season while Hadir Hendy (EGY) will chase her first Premier League Female Kumite 68kg gold medal. The prestigious Grand Winner trophy for this category, however, once again goes to Elena Quirici of Switzerland. She secured the title for the third consecutive year, following her victories in 2024 and 2023.
Spain’s Maria Torres Garcia has not only qualified for the final in Rabat but has also sealed her second consecutive Grand Winner trophy in the Female Kumite +68kg category. For the gold medal in Rabat she will challenge Rochelle Walters (ENG).
Nishiyama Kakeru (JPN) is in to complete four-out-of-four wins of the 2025 Premier League. In tomorrow’s final of the Male Kata, he will face Ariel Torres Gutierrz (USA). With three gold medals this season, Kakeru already secured his fourth consecutive Grand Winner title.
Mohammad Aljafari (JOR) is chasing his fourth Male Kumite -84kg Premier League gold medal. He will challenge Konstantinos Mastrogiannis (GRE) in Rabat's final. Meanwhile, Youssef Badawy (EGY) wins the Grand Winner title for the second year in a row.
With three Premier League medals in 2025 and a final in Rabat, Taha Tarek Mahmoud (EGY) secured his third Grand Winner title. In tomorrow’s Male Kumite +84kg final, he will face Matteo Avanzini (ITA) who will claim his second Premier League medal in 2025.
Azerbaijan’s Iryna Zaretska has made a powerful return to the tatami, marking her first Karate 1 -Premier League tournament since giving birth. The Olympic silver medallist and former World Champion has secured a place in the Female Kumite - 68kg bronze medal match, highlighting a strong comeback to elite competition.
In another inspiring story from Rabat, 21-year-old Arika Gurung of Nepal has reached the Female Kumite +68kg bronze medal match, positioning herself for a chance at her first-ever Premier League medal. Her performance marks a significant achievement for Nepalese karate and reflects the growing global competitiveness of the sport.
Bronze medal matches and finals are scheduled for Sunday, 1 June 2025.
Written by Valentina Kramaric