Karate One Premier League Rome 2026: This is What They Said

The 2026 edition of the Karate One Premier League Rome stood out as a major moment for international karate, bringing together elite athletes and delivering high-level competition. As the new champions were crowned, their full statements revealed the emotions, challenges, and ambitions behind each victory.

In Female Kata,Mo Sheung Grace Lau(HKG) shared her excitement:“I am extremely happy because this is the first time that I have come to Italy, and I saw the medal on the internet, and it is a very nice medal. I really wanted it, and now I got it. I won the final, and I am very excited to see the medal.I am going to do my best (to be the Grand Winner again), but it is very difficult. It is very challenging, but that is the only way to push me forward, so I can improve too. Now I am not going to say anything about it, but it is in my heart, and I work very hard for it.”

Male Kata winnerKakeru Nishiyama(JPN) said after claiming his 13th consecutive gold medal:

“I’m absolutely delighted to have secured another victory. I wasn’t really thinking about the winning streak, but I’ll do my best to keep winning from here on out.”

Grand Winner Kakeru Nishiyama

In Female Kumite +68kg, Sofya Berultseva (KAZ) stated the following following her second triumph of the season:

“I'm very happy because this is the second time in a row that I've won this year. I hope it will continue in all the Premier Leagues and all the tournaments in the year. It's incredible. I hope I will be the Grand Winner. We don't look to the future, but I hope I will be the Grand Winner this year. I will push all of myself to win this title.”

Yorgelis Salazar(VEN), who recovered from a serious injury to take the title in Female Kumite -50kg, said:

“I’m absolutely thrilled and grateful. A year ago, I tore my cruciate ligament at the last Karate One event in Hangzhou, and being here… well, I’ve put in so much hard work and effort. I’m incredibly happy and grateful to be back. It’s a gift and a reward for all the effort and sacrifice, and it makes me really want to carry on because I still love my sport so much.”

Nejra Sipovic(BIH) won her first title in Karate One after prevailing in Female -55kg, and said:

“Honestly, I cannot describe how I feel right now because yesterday it was just a dream to get to the finals of the Premier League, and today I'm gold. I can't believe it, but now I know that everything is possible. This is the first time that I passed the pool, and after that I got to the semi-finals, finals, and today I'm gold, so it's unbelievable.”

Sarara Shimada(JPN), champion in female -61kg, said: “I’m absolutely delighted. As I finished third last time and wasn’t happy with the way I lost, I was determined not to drop any further this time. I’m so pleased that this has resulted in a gold medal. There are two more tournaments to come, but if I can achieve good results and win the Grand Winner title by fighting my own style, I think that would be absolutely brilliant.”

Yorgelis Salazar

Elena Quirici(SUI), the current Grand Winner of the category, made her debut this season after overcoming injuries, and she took gold in Female -68kg, with the happiness of the personal side:

“I feel very happy. It was emotional weeks coming up to this competition as I got engaged, so it was very emotional, and right now I'm just very happy. The first competition after the World Championship, I had a very tough preparation for this tournament, and I got injured. I had pain every day, so I let myself time, and it's so nice to be back with a gold medal, of course.”

In Male kumite +84kg,Andjelo Kvesic(CRO) said:

“Right now I’m very tired, but very happy and proud, of course. This is my second gold medal in the Karate One Premier League. Last time in Antalya, also against an Egyptian guy, Taha Mahmoud, the Grand winner. Now, with the second guy from Egypt, both very good fighters, and I'm thankful to God for everything. Every gold is very big story for us athletes, especially here in Rome, where there is the Colosseum, where gladiators were before, so very, very good story.”

Akhmed Akhmedov(WKF-1), won the crown of Male -60kg, said:

“I’m really delighted to have won the Premier League, as it’s my first time winning it and I’m absolutely thrilled. It’s not my first time in Italy. I go to Italy as if I were going home—the competitions here are always brilliant.”

Yugo Kozaki(JPN) is the current Grand Winner of the category and prevailed in Male -67kg; he stated:

“I’m really happy. I’m going to win the next tournament too. My next step, world champion.”

Heorhii Pitsul(UKR) expressed his amazement after winning his first gold in Karate One Premier League in Male -75kg, said:

“I feel amazing. I kind of imagined all of this a lot, years ago. So it's a big, big pleasure and blessing to be here. In the adult category, I did not start very well because my first season of Premier League was a kind of a shock for me, as it was another level. But we made the steps and the work to improve ourselves. And now, in my third season, I won my first medal and it's gold and it's an unbelievable thing that I can really live and enjoy today.”

Finally,Matteo Fiore(ITA), who won Male -84kg in a celebration of Italian Karate, said:

“I feel absolutely brilliant. Winning the Premier League at home is an indescribable feeling.And this is the first time the Premier League has been held in Italy, and being the first to win it—I can’t put it into words; I still have to let it sink in. The opponent was very strong. He fought at a very high tempo, and I knew I’d have to fight tooth and nail in the final, so I prepared as best I could and it went well.”

The event confirmed the Karate One Premier League as a leading platform for the sport, combining elite performance with personal stories from athletes at the top of their careers.