Six Egyptian athletes reached gold medal matches at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in the Moroccan capital yesterday.

Badawy maintained the squad’s impressive start to the event, as he overcame home favourite Nabil Ech-Chaabi 5-4 in the men’s under-84 kumite semi-finals.

He will benefit from experience in the final, with his opponent Mohammad Aljafari having reached his maiden gold medal match on the Karate 1-Premier League circuit.

The Jordanian athlete was awarded victory by decision after his bout with Croatia’s Ivan Kvesic ended scoreless.

Dahab Ali and Meena Shaaban Okila also enjoyed success in women’s kumite competition for the Egyptian team.

Ali beat Italy’s Giulia Angelucci 6-2 in the women’s under-61kg semi-finals.

She will face further Italian opposition in the final after Aurora Graziosi beat Morocco’s Fatima-Zahra Chajai 2-0.

World Championship silver medallist Okila edged the Czech Republic’s Martina Sachova 2-1 in the last four of the women’s over-68kg division.

Japan’s Ayumi Uekusa prevented an all-Egyptian final by winning 2-0 against Habiba Helmy.

The host nation had cause for celebration in the women’s under-68kg semi-finals, where Nisrine Brouk produced an upset.

The Moroccan athlete earned a 4-3 win over reigning world champion Irina Zaretska of Azerbaijan.

Zaretska had been hoping to reach a third final of the season, having already earned one win and tasted defeat in the other.

Switzerland’s Elena Quirici beat Greece’s Kyriaki Kydonaki 2-0 in the second semi-final.

Japan’s Kazumasa Moto and United States’ Gakuji Tozaki will contest the men’s kata final.

All finals are scheduled to take place tomorrow at the third of five Karate 1-Premier League events this year.