The 2026 Karate One Premier League season concluded on Sunday in Rabat, Morocco, after three days of intense competition held from June 12 to 14.
The event culminated in the highly anticipated finals of the last stage of the world circuit and the crowning of the year’s celebrated “Grand Winners.” This final stage, hosted at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Sports Complex, brought together 369 elite athletes representing 60 countries across the globe, according to World Karate. It also marked the landmark 20th edition of the Mohammed VI International Karate Cup, which remains a key fixture on the sport’s international competitive calendar.
According to World Karate, the Rabat tournament thoroughly lived up to expectations, delivering intense fights, exceptional performances, and several decisive results in the race for the end-of-season awards. African representatives particularly distinguished themselves during this final leg of the global circuit. The host nation, Morocco, finished third in the overall medal standings, securing a total of four medals: one gold, one silver, and two bronze.
Morocco’s Said Oubaya secured the host country’s single gold title in the men’s kumite -67 kg division by narrowly defeating Jordanian Ghaith Afif 7-6 in one of the competition’s most thrilling finals. His compatriot, Sawsane Benchbab, captured a silver medal in women’s kumite -61 kg after reaching a tough final match, which was ultimately won 7-6 by France’s Monica Arzoumanian. Morocco’s impressive medal haul was further bolstered by bronze medals won by Ahmed Haddadi in men’s kumite -60 kg and Mehdi Sriti in the men’s -84 kg category.
Egypt was also among the most prominent and successful African nations at this edition of the tournament. Egyptian competitors Zyad Elgharib Aly (-60 kg), Youssef Badawy (-84 kg), and Ahmed Elmasry (+84 kg) all displayed dominant form to reach the finals in their respective weight classes, with each athlete ultimately taking home a silver medal. Additionally, Tunisia distinguished itself on the podium thanks to Wafa Mahjoub, who won a bronze medal in women’s kumite -61 kg after successfully defeating Japan’s Mana Sawaki in their third-place bout.
In the overall tournament standings, Japan topped the medal table with an impressive haul of three gold, three silver, and six bronze medals, placing just ahead of second-place Italy, while Morocco rounded out the podium in third. This high-stakes Rabat leg of the competition, which followed previous major global events in Istanbul, Rome, and Leshan, brought the 2026 Karate One Premier League season to an official close. World Karate continues to recognize this circuit as the most prestigious international karate competition in the world.
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