Li Gong (Photo WKF)
The final day of the Karate One Premier League in Leshan delivered high drama and clear statements for the season ahead. Established champions confirmed their dominance, while a new wave of winners claimed breakthrough titles.
Yuchun Wei and Li Gong of China delighted the home crowd while Sofya Berultseva, Kakeru Nishiyama, Mo Sheung Grace Lau, and Rodrigo Rojas were among the stand out performances in the quest to the Grand Winners award.
Mo Sheung Grace Lau Dominates Female Kata
Mo Sheung Grace Lau of Hong Kong China controlled the final from start to finish. She beat Maho Ono of Japan 7-0 in a one-sided contest. The bout felt like a classic matchup, but Lau never gave space to her rival. This is her third gold in three events this season. The world and continental champion is now close to securing another Grand Winner title. Her consistency continues to define the female kata field.
Nuri Kilic Breaks Through in Male Kumite -60kg
Nuri Kilic of Türkiye claimed his first Karate One Premier League title with an 11-3 win over Hiromu Hashimoto of Japan. It was a fast and open fight with many scoring actions. Kilic showed sharp timing and control. Before this, his best result was a silver medal in Istanbul earlier this year.
Yorgelis Salazar Edges Thriller in Female Kumite -50kg
Yorgelis Salazar of Venezuela won a tight final against Cylia Ouikene of Algeria. The match ended 6-6, but Salazar took gold by ‘Senshuu’ or first-unopposed point after scoring first.
She tied the fight with a late ‘Yuko’ or one-point technique in the final seconds. After returning from injury, she now has two straight gold medals following her win in Rome. This is her eighth Premier League title, confirming her place among the best in the division.
Abdul Vakhkhob Rashidov Claims First Gold in Male Kumite -67kg
Abdul Vakhkhob Rashidov of Uzbekistan secured his first Premier League title with a 3-2 victory over Luca Maresca of Italy.
The 20-year-old stayed calm in a close match. Just one month ago, he had won bronze in Rome, which was his best result until now. This gold shows his rapid rise and signals a new contender in the category.
Yuchun Wei Shines at Home in Female Kumite -55kg
Yuchun Wei of China delivered a strong performance in front of home fans. She defeated Valeriya Dimova of WKF-1 by 8-0 in a dominant final.
This was her first Premier League title and her first appearance in a final. Before this, her best results were bronze medals at the 2025 Asian Championships and Karate One Series A. The local crowd played a role, as her performance was clear and decisive and celebrated by the local fans.
Enes Bulut Wins Dramatic Final in Male Kumite -75kg
Enes Bulut of Türkiye produced one of the most dramatic moments of the day. He beat Nurkanat Azhikanov of Kazakhstan 6-5 with a last-second ippon.
The score came at 0.00 on the clock and was confirmed after video review. This is Bulut’s first Premier League gold, adding to his bronze from Paris 2024. The finish will be remembered as one of the highlights of the event.
Kakeru Nishiyama extends reign in Male Kata
Kakeru Nishiyama of Japan once again proved his dominance by defeating Kotaro Ohata of Japan 7-0 in a one-sided final. Nishiyama controlled every phase of the performance, showing sharp technique and consistency throughout.
With this victory, he secured his 14th consecutive gold medal in the Premier League and successfully reclaims the Grand Winner title. His unbeaten run, which dates back to November 2023, underlines his position as the leading figure in male kata.
Li Gong delivers commanding win in Female Kumite -61kg
Li Gong of China produced one of the most convincing performances of the day, overcoming Assel Kanay of Kazakhstan with an 11-2 score. Her dominance was clear from the opening exchange, and the bout was stopped before full time due to the large point gap.
Gong adds this title to an already strong list of achievements, including the 2023 world title and a current world silver medal. Competing in her home region of Sichuan, she celebrated the victory with strong local support, emerging alongside Yuchun Wei as one of the standout athletes of the event.
Mohammad Aljafari shines in action-packed Male Kumite -84kg final
Mohammad Aljafari of Jordan delivered a high-energy performance to defeat Rikito Shimada of Japan 14-4 in one of the most dynamic bouts of the day. The match featured multiple Ippon scores and continuous attacking exchanges, with Aljafari maintaining control through sharp timing and effective techniques.
His ability to build a large lead led to an early finish, confirming his strong form. This victory marks his fifth Premier League gold medal and strengthens his position in the race for the Grand Winner title after his bronze medal in Istanbul.
Aleksandra Meshkova secures breakthrough in Female Kumite -68kg
Aleksandra Meshkova of WKF-1 claimed her first Premier League gold medal after a closely contested 3-2 win over Elina Sieliemienieva of Ukraine.
Meshkova’s composure in the closing moments proved decisive, allowing her to edge ahead and hold the advantage until the end. Following a bronze medal in Istanbul and a gold in the Karate One Series A earlier this season, this result marks a significant milestone in her progression.
Rodrigo Rojas edges dramatic contest in Male Kumite +84kg
Rodrigo Rojas of Chile emerged victorious in a tightly contested final, defeating Anes Bostandzic of Bosnia and Herzegovina 7-6. Rojas showed determination and resilience, managing to take the lead in the final moments of the match.
This victory represents his second gold medal of the season and the third of his Premier League career, while also standing out as one of the most notable comebacks of the day.
Sofya Berultseva strengthens dominance in Female Kumite +68kg
Sofya Berultseva of Kazakhstan continued her strong run this season by defeating Arika Gurung of Nepal 2-1 in a controlled and tactical final.
With this result, she claimed her third title in three events this season, taking a clear lead in the Grand Winner standings. It also marks her seventh Premier League gold medal, reinforcing her status as the top athlete in the category.
The Karate One Premier League moves now to Rabat, Morocco, where Karate’s first-class series of events will conclude, from June 12 to 14 and where the new Grand Winners will be proclaimed.
