The final day of the 2024 Karate 1 Premier League in Cairo, Egypt, brought together the world's best karate athletes, showcasing incredible skill and intensity. Egypt’s Abdalla Abdelaziz and Ganna Ally, and Grand Winners Reem Khamis, Mohammad Aljafari, Abdel Rahman Almasatfa and Kakeru Nishiyama were among the gold medallists in Cairo.  

Abdalla Abdelaziz Triumphs in Male Kumite -75kg

Egypt's Abdalla Abdelaziz won the Male Kumite -75kg category, defeating Omer Faruk Yurur of Türkiye with a score of 5-3. As the world number one and reigning Continental and World Champion, this win marked Abdelaziz's third gold medal in the season's three events. His consistent performance has nearly secured him the Grand Winner award in this category.

Reem Khamis Wins Female Kumite -61kg

Germany's Reem Khamis took the gold in Female Kumite -61kg, beating Anna-Johanna Nilsson of Sweden 2-0. This victory was particularly significant for Khamis, as it marked her first-ever Karate 1 Premier League title after two appearances in finals.

Abdallah Hammad Edges Out Hiromu Hashimoto in Male Kumite -60kg

In a closely fought contest, Abdallah Hammad of Jordan emerged victorious in the Male Kumite -60kg category, defeating Japan's Hiromu Hashimoto 9-8. Hammad's previous gold at the Karate 1 Premier League was in 2022 in Fujairah, with a bronze at this year's event in Antalya. This latest victory was even more remarkable considering that Hammad took the gold with a spectacular “Ippon” or three-point technique with 0.01 on the clock.

Ivan Kvesic (CRO) attempts an Ippon against Falleh Midoune (ALG)


Ganna Aly Dominates Female Kumite -50kg

Ganna Aly of Egypt claimed victory in the Female Kumite -50kg with a resounding 9-0 win over Moldir Zhangbyrbay of Kazakhstan. In one of the big upsets of the day, Aly secured the win ahead of time, with 1:36 left on the clock. This was her first appearance in senior competitions, and she impressed the audience with her skill and speed.

Kiri Mishima Takes Female Kata Title

In Female Kata, Japan's Kiri Mishima upset fellow Japanese competitor and top favourite Maho Ono with scores of 43.00 to 42.50. Mishima is a first-time Karate 1 Premier League winner, with her previous best results being four golds at Karate 1-Series A. This win adds a significant achievement to her record as she defeated the Karate 1-Premier League standings co-leader and favourite for the Grand Winner Ono.

Mohammad Aljafari Upset Local Hero Badawy in Male Kumite -84kg

Jordan's Mohammad Aljafari took the gold in the Male Kumite -84kg category, beating Egypt's home favourite Youssef Badawy 12-3. Aljafari's decisive win came with 26 seconds still on the clock. As the current Grand Winner and World Championships bronze medallist, Aljafari continues to demonstrate his dominance in the sport.

Aoi Funada (JPN) in action


Tsubasa Kama Claims Gold in Female Kumite -68kg

Japan's Tsubasa Kama won the Female Kumite -68kg category, defeating Eda Eltemur of Türkiye 4-2. This was Kama's first Karate 1 Premier League win, with her previous best result being a silver at the 2023 event in Fukuoka.

Abdel Rahman Almasatfa Triumphs in Male Kumite -67kg

Abdel Rahman Almasatfa of Jordan emerged as the winner in the Male Kumite -67kg category, beating Said Oubaya of Morocco 13-9. In a roller-coaster of a clash, Almasatfa, an Olympian, defending Grand Winner and current Continental Champion, showcased his experience and skill in this high-scoring bout. This win adds to his accolades after his last victory at the Karate 1 Premier League in Fukuoka 2023.

Valentina Toro Wins Female Kumite -55kg

Chile's Valentina Toro took gold in the Female Kumite -55kg, defeating Maria Stoli of Greece with a commanding 10-2 victory. Toro, the current Continental Champion, had previously won bronze at the Karate 1 Premier League Antalya and claimed gold by stopping the bout before the allotted time.

Valentina Toro (CHI) celebrates


Kakeru Nishiyama Takes Male Kata Title

Japan's Kakeru Nishiyama beat Ali Sofuoglu of Türkiye with a score of 45.3 to 43.6 to win the Male Kata category. Nishiyama, the current Grand Winner and number one on the WKF World Ranking, has also won gold in both Karate 1 Premier League events in Paris and Antalya this season, showcasing his consistency and skill and nearly securing the Grand Winner award of the category.

Johanna Kneer Wins Female Kumite +68kg

Germany's Johanna Kneer triumphed in the Female Kumite +68kg, beating Maria Torres of Spain 4-1. This result mirrored their previous encounter in the Karate 1 Premier League Antalya final, with the same outcome. Kneer, the current Continental Champion, continues to impress with her powerful technique and puts the quest to the Grand Winner in a close contest to be decided in Casablanca.

Sanad Sufyani Takes Gold in Male Kumite +84kg

Sanad Sufyani of Saudi Arabia won the Male Kumite +84kg category, edging out Taha Tarek Mahmoud of Egypt with a score of 5-4. This was Sufyani's first Karate 1 Premier League win, with a previous best result being a silver at the 2023 Karate 1 Premier League Rabat. His victory in Cairo marks an important step in his career as he upset the local hero and favourite to claim the Grand Winner award, Mahmoud.

The final day in Cairo delivered high-level karate action, with a blend of seasoned champions and emerging talents taking centre stage. The final stop of the season of Karate 1-Premier League will take place in Casablanca (Morocco) from May 31 to June 02.

Karate enthusiasts are encouraged to subscribe to the WKF YouTube channel and set a reminder for the live-streaming sessions, ensuring they don't miss a moment of the gripping action. For live updates and exclusive content, follow the WKF on Facebook, Instagram, X (Twitter), and TikTok.  

2024 KARATE 1-PREMIER LEAGUE CAIRO

The winners of #Karate1Cairo pose with the officials