Pavia, fighting in the women's under 57 kilogram category, had to overcome tough opposition in the semi-finals to book her spot in the final as she edged past Romania's Corina Caprioriu on shido penalties.

The final at the Park & Suites Arena proved an easier affair for the Olympic bronze medallist as she threw Germany's Miryam Roper for ippon early on in the contest to claim back-to-back gold medals in the European Championships, much to the delight of the home crowds.

"I have trained hard for this and I am so glad that I was able to win here in France," said Pavia.

"My family and friends were here and it was great to win before their eyes."

The bronze medal contests saw Austria's Sabrina Filzmoser, who suffered a broken arm in her defeat to Pavia in last year's final, overcome Bulgaria's Ivelina Ilieva, whilst Portugal's Telma Monteiro made it two losses in a row for Caprioriu as she secured the final medal of the division.

"This medal means so much to me," said Filzmoser.

"It has been a long time since I stood on the podium, since I was in hospital last year and missed the medal ceremony."

Loïc Korval shocked teammate David Larose in the men's under 66kg contest as the Frenchman secured his first European title in Montpellier ©EJU/Carlos Ferreira



A surprise was on the cards in the men's under 66kg contest as Korval secured his first European title with victory over teammate and Samsun Grand Prix winner David Larose.

Korval had made his way into the final with a tight victory over Spain's Sugoi Uriarte Marcos by yuko and continued his impressive form to edge his compatriot on shido penalties in the final.

Russia's Mikhail Pulyaev, who lost to Larose in the semi-finals, earned a bronze medal in his first European Championships by beating Ukraine's former world champion Georgii Zantaraia in the first play-off final.

It was also a first European medal for Belarus' Dzmitry Shershan as he got the better of Marcos in the second bronze medal match.

It was a battle of the European champions in the men's under 60kg contest as defending gold medallist Amiran Papinashvili of Georgia took on Russia's 2012 winner Beslan Mudranov.

In a very tense encounter neither judoka managed a score in normal time causing the game to run into golden score where Papinashvili received a penalty for inactivity and subsequently lost.

The bronze medal matches saw Azerbaijan's Ilgar Mushkiyev defeat Britain's Ashley McKenzie, while Armenia's Hovhannes Davtyan secured the other following the withdrawal of Russia's Olympic silver medallist Arsen Galstyan due to a foot injury he picked up during his quarter-final encounter.

Kosovan world champion Majlinda Kelmendi got the better of reigning European champion Natalia Kuziutina to secure victory in the women's under 52kg final ©EJU/Carlos Ferreira



On the women's side, Kosovan world champion Majlinda Kelmendi reigned supreme in the under 52kg category as she defeated Russian reigning European champion Natalia Kuziutina by a single yuko score in the gold medal final.

The two bronze medals in this division were won by Israel's Gill Cohen and Romania's Andreea Chitu following victories over Russia's Yulia Ryzhova and Germany's Mareen Kraeh.

Hungary's Eva Csernoviczki defended her title in the women's under 48kg event as she came from behind to edge past France's Amadine Buchard in golden score.

Russia's Kristina Rumyantseva earned the first bronze medal of this division as she defeated Israel's Amelie Rosseneu before Ukraine's Maryna Cherniak secured the other with victory over Italian Valentina Moscatt.

Action continues in Montpellier tomorrow with the men's under 73kg and under 81kg competitions and the women's under 63kg and under 70kg events.

To watch all the latest judo action click here.

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


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