Grand Winners Crowned as Spectacular Karate One Premier League Season Ends in Rabat

The 2026 Karate One Premier League season concluded in spectacular fashion in Rabat, Morocco, as the final champions of the year were crowned and the remaining Grand Winner awards were decided. The last event of karate's premier international series delivered everything that was at stake on the final day: dramatic contests, emotional victories, breakthrough performances and decisive results in the race for the season honours. With athletes clashing not only for gold medals but also for Grand Winner recognition, the competition produced a fitting finale to an unforgettable season.

Grace Lau dominates Female Kata

Hong Kong China's Grace Lau confirmed her status as the dominant athlete in Female Kata with a convincing 6-1 victory over Japan's Maho Ono. The reigning world and continental champion controlled the final from the beginning and never allowed her opponent to challenge for the title. The triumph completed a perfect season for Lau, who won all four Karate One tournaments she entered this year.

Her outstanding consistency throughout the campaign also secured her asecond consecutive Grand Winner award,further strengthening her position as the leading athlete in the category.

Christian Sabatino seals Grand Winner award in Male Kumite -60kg

Italy's Christian Sabatino completed one of the most remarkable stories of the season by defeating Egypt's Zyad Elgharib Aly 4-1 in the final. Entering the event with only a bronze medal from Istanbul as his best result of the year, Sabatino produced his strongest performance when it mattered most.

His first Karate One Premier League title not only earned him the gold medal in Rabat but also confirmed him as theGrand Winner of the category, rewarding an impressive rise through the rankings during the season.

Aika Okazaki claims breakthrough title in Female Kumite -50kg

Japan's Aika Okazaki celebrated a career milestone after edging Venezuela's Yorgelis Salazar 1-0 in a closely contested final. The victory marked the first Karate One Premier League gold medal of her career and represented a major step forward for the Japanese athlete. Okazaki arrived in Rabat with a Karate One Series A title and a Premier League bronze medal already on her record this season. By defeating thenewly crowned Grand Winnerin the final, she capped her campaign with the biggest victory of her career.

Said Oubaya delights home crowd in Male Kumite -67kg

Morocco's Said Oubaya gave the local supporters plenty to celebrate after overcoming Jordan's Ghaith Afeef 7-6 in one of the most exciting finals of the day. The match remained close from start to finish, with both athletes exchanging scores in a fast-paced contest. Backed by a passionate home crowd, Oubaya found the extra energy needed to secure victory and claim his fifth Karate One Premier League title. The gold medal was a memorable reward for one of Morocco's most successful karate athletes competing on home soil.

The quest to the Grand Winners award was equally thrilling asLuca Maresca of Italy confirmed her status as the Best of the Bestof the season in spectacular fashion

Rina Kodo returns to the top in Female Kumite -55kg

Japan's Rina Kodo delivered a strong performance to defeat Luxembourg's Jennifer Warling 6-1 in the final of Female Kumite -55kg. Kodo controlled the contest with confidence and precision, preventing her opponent from building any momentum. The victory earned her the second Karate One Premier League title of her career and her first since winning in Hangzhou last year.

Ernest Sharafutdinov earns first Premier League gold in Male Kumite -75kg

WKF-1 athlete Ernest Sharafutdinov produced one of the most dominant displays of the day in his final against Georgia's Valiko Poniava. Sharafutdinov controlled the bout from the opening seconds and completed an emphatic 8-0 victory to secure the gold medal. The title was the first Karate One Premier League triumph of his career and represented a major breakthrough after earning bronze in Leshan earlier in the season.

Kakeru Nishiyama extends winning streak in Male Kata

Japan's Kakeru Nishiyama continued his extraordinary run of form by defeating fellow Japanese athlete Kotaro Ohata 7-0 in the Male Kata final. The reigning world and continental champion once again demonstrated the quality that has made him the benchmark in the category. The victory extended his winning streak to 15 consecutive gold medals and securedhis fifth consecutive Grand Winner award.Nishiyama's dominance throughout the season confirmed his place among the most successful competitors in Karate One history.

Monica Arzumian makes history in Female Kumite -61kg

France's Monica Arzumian achieved the biggest success of her young career after edging Morocco's Sawsane Benchbab 7-6 in a dramatic final. Competing in her first-ever Karate One Premier League final, the 18-year-old showed impressive composure under pressure to secure victory. The gold medal was not only her first title at Karate One level but also the first international title of her career.

Mohammad Aljafari shines in Male Kumite -84kg

Jordan's Mohammad Aljafari delivered one of the defining moments of the event with a 5-3 victory over Egypt's Youssef Badawy in the final of Male Kumite -84kg. The world No. 2 entered Rabat with the Grand Winner award still within reach and rose to the occasion with an impressive display.

By claiming his sixth Karate One Premier League title, Aljafari secured the season honour andrecovered the Grand Winner distinctionthat he last won in 2023. His performance under pressure highlighted why he is considered one of the leading athletes in the world.

Iryna Zaretska triumphs as Grand Winner race goes to Elina Sieliemenieva in Female Kumite -68kg

Azerbaijan's Iryna Zaretska added another chapter to her remarkable career after defeating Japan's Tsubasa Kama by hantei following a scoreless final. The victory brought her total to 14 Karate One Premier League gold medals, extending one of the most impressive records in the competition.

While Zaretska celebrated the tournament title, the season-longGrand Winner race was ultimately won by Ukraine's Elina Sieliemienieva.Her bronze medal performance in Rabat proved enough to secure the category's top honour for the year.

Andjelo Kvesic captures Male Kumite +84kg crown

Croatia's Andjelo Kvesic continued his strong season by defeating Egypt's Ahmed Elmasry 6-2 in the final. Kvesic controlled the match with confidence and used his experience to keep his opponent at a safe distance throughout the contest. The victory earned him the third Karate One Premier League title of his career and added another major achievement to a season that recently included a bronze medal at the European Championships.

Clio Ferracuti finally strikes gold in Female Kumite +68kg

Italy's Clio Ferracuti finally achieved her long-awaited breakthrough with an impressive 11-2 victory over England's Rochelle Walters. Ferracuti had previously suffered defeat in six Karate One Premier League finals, collecting six silver medals without reaching the top step of the podium. In Rabat, however, she delivered a commanding performance to claim her first title in the series. The current continental champion's emotional victory brought an end to near misses and provided one of the most satisfying moments of the final day.

With the final medals awarded in Rabat, the 2026 Karate One Premier League season officially came to an end. The last event of the year delivered decisive Grand Winner clashes, memorable championship performances and several historic achievements, providing a spectacular conclusion to karate's first-class series of international events.

2026 KARATE ONE PREMIER LEAGUE RABAT