Luca Maresca Claims Karate One Grand Winner Award in Male Kumite -67kg: “It has been an incredible year and I did not expect this”

Italy's Luca Maresca has been crowned the Karate One Grand Winner in Male Kumite -67kg after a dramatic conclusion to the season in Rabat.

The 32-year-old secured the prestigious award after his closest rival, Iurik Ogannisian, was unable to win the title he needed in the final event of the season. Maresca's consistency throughout the year proved decisive, with bronze medals in Istanbul and Rome, a silver medal in Leshan, and another bronze medal in Rabat earning him the distinction of being the best performer of the season.

"I am very happy. It has been an incredible year and I did not expect this. I am living a dream this season," he said.

Maresca's campaign in Rabat started strongly as he topped his elimination pool. The Italian defeated Joe Gallagher of Scotland 4-1 in his opening match before recording another 4-1 victory over Vinicius Figueira of Brazil. He then edged past Zsombor Toth of Hungary 4-4 to finish first in the group.

In the quarterfinals, Maresca overcame teammate Rosario Ruggiero of Italy by a 3-0 scoreline. His run towards the final ended in the semifinals, where he suffered a narrow 5-5 defeat against Ghaith Afeef of Jordan. He bounced back in the bronze-medal match, defeating Muhammed Oezdemir of Germany 2-1 to secure a place on the podium and take his first Grand Winner title.

"Friday was a very difficult day. I lost the semifinal in the last two seconds and I thought I had lost my dream. But today I won and I am extremely happy and grateful."

The Grand Winner title caps one of the most successful seasons of Maresca's career and confirms the Italian as one of the leading athletes in the Male Kumite -67kg division.