Abe, aged just 16, is the younger sister of 19-year-old Paris Grand Slam winner Hifumi Abe and she saw off former European Championships silver medallist Amandine Buchard of France with a low uchi-mata for a waza-ari in the final of the women's under 52 kilogram event at the Mitsubishi Electric Halle.

The first bronze medal was clinched by Japan's Shishime Ai while Romania's Alexandra-Larisa Florian collected the other.

Tokyo Grand Slam bronze medallist Funa Tonaki of Japan moved one step closer to World Championships selection after winning the third Grand Prix gold medal of her career in the under 48kg category today.

The 21-year-old was unbeatable in Dusseldorf as she won all four contests by ippon including the final against France's Melanie Clement.

Tonaki, who like many of her lighter Japanese colleagues is masterful on the ground, was able to wrap up her opponent with a mune-gatame for 20 seconds and ippon in the opening minute.

The bronze medals were shared by Israel's Noa Minsker and Romania's Monico Ungureanu.

In the final women's category of today, Germany's Theresa Stoll shocked Rio 2016 Olympic Games silver medallist Sumiya Dorjsuren of Mongolia in the final of the under 57kg event.

World number 27 Stoll, aged 21, was a surprise finalist but took Dorjsuren into golden score before countering the Ulaanbaatar judoka after one minute for a match-winning waza-ari. 

“It all feels like a dream to me, I could not believe I was in the final," said Stoll.

"I talked to my sister after my semi-final win and was able to regain my composure to come out for the final.

"It is difficult to put into words what I am feeling right now but I cannot wait for my next event and I hope to challenge at the European Championships this year.”

Serbia's Jovana Rogic and Japan's Nae Udaka shared the bronze medals.

There was also action in two men's categories today.

Former world champion Boldbaatar Ganbat of Mongolia returned to the top of the medal podium on the IJF stage with a determined display in Germany in the under 60kg competition.

Ganbat, who last claimed gold at the Baku Grand Slam last year, defeated Amiran Papinashvili of Georgia for a waza-ari score and only his second IJF gold medal since winning the World Championships title in 2014.

The first bronze medal was won by another Mongolian, Amartuvshin Dashdavaa while he was joined on the podium by Brazilian Phelipe Pelim.

European champion Vazha Margvelashvili of Georgia then followed up on his Paris Grand Slam bronze medal with Grand Prix gold in Germany in the under 66kg event.

The gritty Georgian conquered 21-year-old Norihito Isoda of Japan in the final. 

Margvelashvili sealed gold after just nine seconds of golden score with a waza-ari from an uchi-mata as he hunts down top spot in the world rankings.

The first bronze medal was won by Israel's Tal Flicker while the second bronze medal went to former World Championships bronze medallist Kamal Khan-Magomedov of Russia.

Grand Prix competitions will take on added significance this season with a gold medal now worth 700 points in the world rankings.

This is up from 300 with the aim of boosting the standard of entries.

Action is set to continue tomorrow with a further four categories.

Watch all the latest judo action on Judo TV here.