Karate 1 – Premier League in Hangzhou 2025

Here’s a recap of the action on the first day of this highly anticipated event.

Female Kata: Maho Ono and Mo Sheung Grace in Anticipated Final
Japan’s Maho Ono reached another final in the Female Kata category, defeating her compatriot Kiri Mishima with a score of 42.9 to 42.1 in the semifinal. Meanwhile, Mo Sheung Grace Lau of Hong Kong impressed with a dominant win over Japan’s Saeko Azuma, scoring 43.7 to 42.61. The female kata competition displayed the incredible finesse and form of these talented athletes.

Female Kumite -50kg: Moldir Zhangbyrbay vs Cylia Ouikene
Kazakhstan’s Moldir Zhangbyrbay used the Grand Winner title in her favour to reach the final of the Female Kumite -50kg category, narrowly defeating Japan’s Sara Tsutsumi 1-0 in the final. Algeria’s Cylia Ouikene also impressed, securing a dominant 9-1 win over Italy’s Erminia Perfetto to make her way into the final rounds.

Male Kumite -60kg: Eray Samdan Shines
In the Male Kumite -60kg category, Turkey’s Eray Samdan delivered a strong performance to beat Japan’s Hiromu Hashimoto 3-1 in the semifinal. Greece’s Christos-Stefanos Xenos also impressed by defeating France’s Rayyan Meziane 3-1 to secure a place in the finals.

Female Kumite -55kg: Rina Kodo vs Fatemeh Saadati
Japan’s Rina Kodo was in top form as she defeated Italy’s Veronica Brunori 6-0 in the Female Kumite -55kg semifinal, claiming a convincing win. Meanwhile, Iran’s Fatemeh Saadati also made waves, defeating Luxembourg’s Jennifer Warling 5-2 to advance to the last bout.

Male Kumite -67kg: Said Oubaya vs Abdel Almasatfa
Morocco’s Said Oubaya proved his mettle by edging out Japan’s Yugo Kozaki 2-2 in the Male Kumite -67kg semifinal, where the victory went to the defending Grand Winner by decision. Abdel Almasatfa of Jordan fought a hard-fought battle against Cheng-Chung Shih of Chinese Taipei, with the bout ending in a draw at 7-7 before a decision was made in Almasatfa’s favor to put the Olympian in the final.

Male Kumite -75kg: Abdalla Abdelaziz Continues on Top Form
Egypt’s Abdalla Abdelaziz claimed another final spot in the Male Kumite -75kg category with a narrow 5-4 victory over Azerbaijan’s Farid Aghayev in the semifinal to continue his winning streak. France’s Enzo Berthon also earned a solid victory, defeating Iran’s Bahman Asgari Ghoncheh to advance in the competition.

>>> Grand Winners Maho Ono, Moldir Zhangbyrbay, Said Oubaya, and Abdalla Abdelaziz were among the big winners of the first day <<< 

A Day to Remember
Day one of the Karate 1-Premier League Hangzhou will surely go down as one of the most exciting events of the year in Karate. The athletes proved why karate is one of the most thrilling sports in the world, and with so many amazing performances already on display and an outstanding background in Hangzhou, the stage is set for an unforgettable conclusion to this season’s second premier league event.

The 2025 Karate 1-Premier League was officially inaugurated in Hangzhou with a spectacular opening ceremony that showcased the excellence of karate and the outstanding organisation of Chinese karate.

The event, hosted by the Chinese Karate Association and the Linping District, welcomed dignitaries, athletes, and officials from around the world in a magnificent event that marked the official start of the competition and the many values of the sport.

With Karate gaining rapid popularity, the event served as a testament to the country’s commitment to developing high-level competitions and fostering elite talent. The attendance of World Karate Federation (WKF) President Antonio Espinós and top sports officials from the region reinforced the significance of this event on the global karate calendar.

In addition to Mr Espinós, the ceremony had the secretary of the CPC Hangzhou Linping District Committee Chen Rugen, the president of the Chinese Karate Association Zhang Zhi, the Vice Minister of the General Administration of Sport of China and Vice President of the Chinese Olympic Committee Liu Guoyong, the Deputy Major of Hangzhou Municipal People’s Government Chen Weiqiang, the Director-General of Sport Bureau of Zhejiang Province Jin Zhi in attendance, among many other representatives.

WKF President Antonio Espinós praised the Chinese Karate Association for its exceptional organisation, stating, ”The dedication and professionalism of the Chinese Karate Association, brilliantly headed by Mr Zhang Zhi have once again delivered a world-class event. The progress of karate in China has been nothing short of extraordinary, making it one of the fastest-growing sports in the country. I want to express my gratitude to the organisers and local authorities for their support in making this competition a great success.”

From left to right: Yang Yingying, director of the Hangzhou Sports Bureau; Chen Weiqiang, Deputy Major of Hangzhou Municipal People’s Government, Jin Zhi, Director-General of Sport Bureau of Zhejiang Province; Zhang Xin, Director-General of Competitive Sports Department of the General Administration of Sport of China; WKF President Antonio Espinós; Liu Guoyong, Vice Minister of the General Administration of Sport of China and Vice President of the Chinese Olympic Committee; Zhang Zhi, Director-General of Boxing and Taekwondo Administration Centre of the General Administration of Sport of China and President of the Chinese Karate Association; Zhou Xuyin, Deputy Secretary of the CPC Hangzhou Liping District Committee and District Mayor of Linping District People’s Government; and Wang Yanqin, member of the standing Committee of CPC Hangzhou  Linping District Committee and Deputy District Mayor of Linping District People’s Government.As the competition unfolds, Hangzhou solidifies its place as a key hub for international karate. The second edition of the Karate 1-Premier League in the city promises thrilling matches, elite performances, and a continued push to elevate the sport in China and beyond.

The final day of the 2025 Karate 1-Premier League in Hangzhou, China, showcased breathtaking moments and major upsets.

The second Karate 1-Premier League of the year concluded with Grand Winners Abdalla Abdelaziz, Said Oubaya, Kakeru Nishiyama, and Youssef Badawy and stars Mo Sheung Grace Lau of Hong Kong China and Merabi Gelashvili were among the heroes of the day in Hangzhou.

Female Kata: Mo Sheung Grace Lau of Hong Kong China Wins Gold
Mo Sheung Grace Lau delivered a stunning performance to claim the gold in Female Kata. In a surprising turn of events, Lau defeated Grand Winner and top favourite Maho Ono of Japan with a score of 43.40 to 42.60. The Olympic and continental champion harnessed the energy from the stands, leading to an unforgettable upset that left the audience in awe.

Male Kumite -60 Kg: Eray Samdan of Turkiye Takes the Win
Eray Samdan continued to make waves by outmanoeuvring world champion Christos-Stefanos Xenos of Greece with a close score of 2-1. This victory marks Samdan’s second win of the season, following his triumph in Paris, solidifying his status as a formidable contender.

Female Kumite -50 Kg: Cylia Ouikene of Algeria Triumphs
Cylia Ouikene pulled off a thrilling upset by defeating the Grand Winner and favoured Moldir Zhangbyrbay of Kazakhstan in a nail-biting contest. The score was 8-8, with Ouikene winning by ”Senshuu” or first unopposed point, claiming her first victory at the Karate 1-Premier League and showcasing her potential on the international stage.

Male Kumite -67 Kg: Said Oubaya of Morocco Dominates
Current Grand Winner Said Oubaya demonstrated his strength by defeating Olympian Abdel Rahman Almasatfa of Jordan with an impressive score of 9-1. This victory marks Oubaya’s return to form, earning his first title since last year?s Karate 1-Premier League in Antalya.

Female Kumite -55 Kg: Rina Kodo of Japan Shines
Making her mark, Rina Kodo clinched her first-ever victory in the Karate 1-Premier League by decisively beating Fatemeh Saadati of Iran 4-0. Kodo’s performance affirmed her potential as a rising star in the sport.

Male Kumite -75 Kg: Abdalla Abdelaziz of Egypt Continues His Streak
Abdalla Abdelaziz, the Grand Winner and reigning continental and world champion, managed to secure another victory against Enzo Berthon of France. The match ended with a 2-2 score, where Abdelaziz won by ”Senshu” or the first unopposed point. His continued success highlights his dominance in the division, having remained undefeated since the 2023 Continental Championships.

Male Kata: Kakeru Nishiyama of Japan Rules Again
Kakeru Nishiyama proved his status as the great dominator in Male Kata by winning his seventh consecutive gold medal. He edged out Ariel Torres Gutierrez of the United States with a score of 44.1 to 43.3, reinforcing his reputation on the global stage.

Female Kumite -61 Kg: Atousa Golshadnezhad of Iran Emerges Victorious
Atousa Golshadnezhad claimed victory over grand winner Reem Khamis of Germany with a score of 4-3, after Khamis suffered an injury during the final. Golshadnezhad, who also won the Karate 1-Premier League in Paris last year, added the gold medal to the impressive performance of Iranian athletes today.

Male Kumite -84 Kg: Youssef Badawy of Egypt Claims Another Title
In a fiercely contested match, Youssef Badawy won against Mohammad Aljafari of Jordan through ?Hantei? or decision after the clash went scoreless 0-0. Badawy?s second consecutive gold solidifies his place as a leading contender and world leader in the male kumite scene.

Female Kumite -68 Kg: Tsubasa Kama of Japan Claims Victory
Tsubasa Kama brought home the gold by defeating Grand Winner Elena Quirici of Switzerland in a thrilling clash, ending with a score of 9-7. This title is significant for Kama, marking her return to the top after winning at the 2024 Karate 1-Premier League in Cairo.

Male Kumite -84+ Kg: Merabi Gelashvili of Georgia Wins His First Title
Merabi Gelashvili celebrated a milestone by defeating Saleh Abazari of Iran 5-3. This victory is Gelashvili’s first international title in senior categories, highlighting his emergence in the sport.

Female Kumite +68 Kg: Clemence Pea of France Achieves Glory
Clemence Pea earned her first international title by triumphing over Clio Ferracuti of Italy with a score of 6-4. Pea?s first-ever title put the young athletes in the spotlight and highlights the impressive efficiency of France?s grassroots programme.

As the competition concluded in Hangzhou with a brilliant showcase of karate?s excitement, the Karate 1-Premier League now prepares to the third event of the season to be held in Cairo, Egypt, from April 18 to 20.