(Photo WKF/ JM Rodriguez / RFEK)
The 2026 Karate One Series A in A Coruña closed with a packed final day with last four kumite titles decided with close fights and up-and-coming karatekas as the winners.
Anna Rodina Claims -61 Kg Title with 9-6 Win
Anna Rodina from WKF-1 took control early in the women’s -61 kg final. She beat Ashley Kakiay of Nederlands 9-6. Rodina kept a steady pace and closed the match without mistakes.
Behi̇je Mustafa Dominates -68 Kg Final 14-6
Behi̇je Mustafa of Kosovo won the women’s -68 kg category with a clear 14-6 result over Jana Hazem Elsayed of Egypt. Mustafa set the tone from the start with fast attacks, and the wide score shows Mustafa’s control of the bout.
Hiroki Araki Edges Tight -75 Kg Contest 4-2
In the men’s -75 kg final, Hiroki Araki of Japan beat Timofei Leontev of WKF-1 by 4-2. It was a careful match with few openings. Araki scored at key moments and defended well in the final seconds.
Ruben Dario Henao Amu Wins Narrow -84 Kg Final 2-1
Ruben Dario Henao Amu from Colombia secured the men’s -84 kg title with a 2-1 win over Jesus Francisco Moreno Bautista of Mexico. The match was tight Henao Amu kept the small lead until the end.
Earlier on the second day of the competition, there were also plenty of surprises.
Hira Nur Temizel secures Female Kumite -50 Kg title
Hira Nur Temizel of Türkiye claimed the gold medal in the female kumite -50 kg division after defeating Spain’s Insaf Bentama-Serroukh Jebari by a score of 5-3. Temizel combined sharp attacking movements with controlled defensive work to take the crown
Oleksandra Hulavska wins tactical battle in Female Kumite -55 Kg final
Oleksandra Hulavska of Ukraine earned victory in the female kumite -55 kg category with a narrow 1-0 win over Egypt’s Menatalah Elhawary. In a highly tactical contest Hulavska managed to secure a single decisive point early on and then maintaining her advantage through careful control of distance and timing.
Dinmukhamed Aidarbek claims Male Kumite -60 Kg gold
Dinmukhamed Aidarbek of Kazakhstan captured the male kumite -60 kg title following a 5-2 victory against Mert Halici of Türkiye. Aidarbek set the tone early with quick and effective scoring techniques, building a solid lead that allowed him to dictate the pace of the match.
Illia Hrynenko takes Male Kumite -67 Kg title
Illia Hrynenko of Ukraine emerged as the winner in the male kumite -67 kg division after a 4-4 draw with Japan’s Taiki Kataoka, with the result decided on tie-breaking criteria. Both competitors delivered a fast and balanced contest with exchanges of points throughout, but Hrynenko’s lead ultimately secured him the gold medal.
Portugal delivers commanding performance to win Female Team Kata gold
Portugal secured the female team kata title with a decisive 5-0 victory over Türkiye, as the Portuguese team impressed the judges with a performance marked by strong synchronization, precise technique, and consistent execution.
Türkiye edges France to win Male Team Kata title in close final
Türkiye claimed the male team kata gold medal after a closely contested 3-2 win against France, in a final where both teams demonstrated high technical quality and strong coordination. Türkiye gained a slight advantage in key aspects, which proved enough to earn them the judges’ decision.
The Karate 1 Series A travels now to Guadalajara, Mexico, where the third event of the season will be held from July 17 to 19.
