Zlateva, who won five consecutive European titles between 2006 and 2010, topped the podium again in the Trio Areena after recovering from an early setback in her final with last year's bronze medallist Vasilisa Marzaliuk of Belarus, before pinning her opponent with a single-leg takedown to emerge with a 4-2 win.

Ukraine's Kateryna Burmistrova claimed her second consecutive World Championship bronze with victory over Romanian Ileana Macovei, while Russian Ekaterina Bukina defeated Zsanett Nemeth of Hungary.

World number one Anastasija Grigorjeva of Latvia proved why she is the current top-ranked athlete in the women's 63kg class by comfortably overcoming Kazan 2013 Universiade bronze medal winner Maria Mamashuk of Belarus to take her third win at European level.

Ukrainian Yulia Tkach Ostapchuk and Bulgaria's Dzhanan Manolova took home the bronze, with Manolova particularly impressing as she defeated 2012 European champion Henna Johansson of Sweden.

Abdulrashid Sadulaev of Russia raises his arm after claiming his maiden European title in Vantaa today ©AFP/Getty Images



In the men's categories, two new names were added to the list of European champions.

Double cadet world champion Abdulrashid Sadulaev of Russia outscored the experienced Belarusian Murad Gaidarov 5-2 in the final of the 86kg class, sealing victory with a front headlock.

Musa Murtazaliev of Armenia and Hungary's Istvan Vereb took the bronze medals.

Meanwhile, Azerbaijan's Ruslan Dibirgadzhiyev showed no sign of nerves in his first European decider as he opened with a four-point arm throw and a flurry of tilts for a 10-1 lead only 40 seconds into the 70kg final.

He closed with a single-leg takedown for a 12-2 technical fall.

Two 5-0 points wins for Bulgarian Miroslav Kirov and Turkey's Yakup Gor saw them secure bronze against Romanian Adrian Moise and Zsombor Gulyas of Hungary, respectively.

The 2014 European Championships in Vantaa continue through until Sunday (April 6).

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