The third Karate 1-Premier League event of the year will be held in Rabat (Morocco) from May 13 to 15.

Nearly 300 competitors from 48 countries have registered to participate in the anticipated event. Italy present the largest delegation with 25 competitions, followed by Egypt and Spain with 23 and 19 karatekas respectively.

A host of Olympians, Grand Winners and World Champions are set to fight for glory at the event. In Female Kata, Olympians Sakura Kokumai (USA), and Mo Sheung Grace Lau (HKG), and World Championships runner-up Hikaru Ono (JPN) will catch the attention of fans, just as Olympians Ariel Torres (USA), and Mohamed Almosawi (KUW) in Male Kata.

The list of favourites in Female Kumite is headed by Olympic Games champion and Grand Winner Feryal Abdelziz (EGY), together with Olympians Bettina Plank (AUT), Btissam Sadini (MOR) and Ayumi Uekusa (JPN). Olympian and Grand Winner Anzhelika Terliuga (UKR) and World champions Irina Zaretska (AZE), and Maria Torres (ESP) will also be taking their chances.

In Male Kumite categories, the competition is expected to be fierce. Olympic Games silver medallist Tareq Hamedi (KSA), Olympians Abdel Rahman Almasatfa (JOR), Abdallah Abdelaziz (EGY), Karoly Gabor Harspartaki (HUN), Ken Nishimura (JPN), and Ivan Kvesic (CRO) and World champion Youssef Badawy (EGY) are among the front-runners.

After two thrilling events, the quest to dominate the different divisions of international Karate is taking a definitive step in Rabat. Only Kiyou Shimizu of Japan, who is absent in Rabat, has claimed gold in both Karate 1-Premier League events this season. Ukrainian stars Anzhelika Terliuga and Anita Serogina have managed to be in the final of both tournaments in Fujairah and Matosinhos

Meanwhile, the category of Female Kumite -68kg has had the same two finalists in the two events, with Silvia Semeraro of Italy and Irina Zarestka of Azerbaijan winning one title each.  

The elimination rounds on Friday and Saturday will be available LIVE on the WKF YouTube channel. Fans can catch all the action of the medal bouts on Sunday on the WKF YouTube Channel and on many TV networks around the world.  

The Draws of the competition which determine the matchups are also streamed LIVE on the WKF YouTube channel. on Thursday, May 12 at 19:00 local time