(Photo WKF)
The second day of the 2026 Karate One Premier League Leshan delivered decisive clashes and new storylines as several new finalists emerged across kata and kumite categories.
Male Kata — Kotaro Ohata vs Kakeru Nishiyama
Kotaro Ohata of Japan reached his first Karate One Premier League final after stunning favourite Ariel Torres Gutierrez of the United States 4–3. The result was one of the biggest upsets of the day, as Ohata overcame the silver medallist from Rome.
Kakeru Nishiyama, also of Japan, moved forward with a commanding 6–1 win over Kazumasa Moto. Nishiyama is targeting his 16th Premier League title. After victories in Istanbul and Rome, he looks set to push again to retain the Grand Winner crown.
Female Kumite -61 kg — Li Gong vs Assel Kanay
Li Gong of China advanced to the final after a tight 5–4 victory over Aizhan Bakirova of Kazakhstan. The current World Championships runner-up used the home support to full effect. A Sichuan native and China’s top karate star, Gong now seeks her second Premier League title, after winning gold in Casablanca in 2024.
Assel Kanay of Kazakhstan overcame Fatma Naz Yenen of Türkiye 8–5 to book her place in the final. The reigning Grand Winner has five silver medals at Premier League events and finished second in Rome. She now aims to capture her first Premier League gold.
Male Kumite -84 kg — Rikito Shimada vs Mohammad Aljafari
Rikito Shimada of Japan secured his place in the final after edging Eduard Gasparian of WKF-1 by Hantei following a scoreless bout. Shimada is now in his third Premier League final and is still seeking his first gold after earning two silvers.
Mohammad Aljafari of Jordan reached his 10th Premier League final with a victory over Michele Martina of Italy 8-5. The match was one of the most exciting of the day. Aljafari, a bronze medallist in Istanbul, hopes to claim his first gold of the season and strengthen his Grand Winner bid.
Female Kumite -68 kg — Elina Sieliemienieva vs Aleksandra Meshkova
Elina Sieliemienieva of Ukraine defeated Iryna Zaretska of Azerbaijan 2–0 to secure her spot in the final. A two-time finalist, Sieliemienieva is targeting her first Premier League title after finishing with silver in 2021.
Aleksandra Meshkova of WKF-1 qualified for her first Premier League final with a 9–6 win over Tsubasa Kama of Japan. She previously earned bronze in Istanbul and now seeks her breakthrough gold.
Male Kumite +84 kg — Anes Bostandzic vs Rodrigo Rojas
Anes Bostandzic of Bosnia and Herzegovina advanced to the final with a 3–1 win over Michele Ciani of Italy. A three-time finalist, Bostandzic is still chasing his first gold after two silver finishes.
Rodrigo Rojas of Chile defeated Ryzvan Talibov of Ukraine 8–3. The Istanbul winner and two-time Premier League gold medallist continues his strong season and now eyes another title.
Female Kumite +68 kg — Sofya Berultseva vs Arika Gurung
Sofya Berultseva of Kazakhstan reached the final after a 5–5 victory over Dariia Bulay of Ukraine. A 10-time finalist, Berultseva is on a roll this season, winning gold in Istanbul and Rome. She now aims for a third consecutive title.
Arika Gurung of Nepal defeated Clio Ferracuti of Italy 8–3 to earn her second Premier League final appearance. After taking silver in Istanbul, Gurung now has the chance to secure her first gold.
