>>51560503Even if Ash loses Leon it would feel like a setback (even worse than BW) if the WORLD runner-up gets to battle rookies again (anyone remember Charizard vs Chikorita?).
For me the obvious answer is for Ash to look for a hobby between official competitions and I think that focusing the new anime on racing/treasure hunting would be the most obvious option, this way the character would start from the bottom and it would feel natural, having as rivals and friends to Nemona and Arven.
While leaving the Gym leaders for a newbie, maybe Penny. And if the story is as good as the alleged "leaks" say, then the anime should give us the focus from four perspectives, with four protagonists, Penny in the league, Nemona in the races, Arven in the treasure hunt, and Ash as the foreigner who is used for exposition for the audience.
A very good excuse to continue with Ash would be that as a recent regional champion he has to submit to certain standards and tests of a world regulatory agency, Geeta would enter here.