Guljonoy Naimova achieved gold once again at the Para taekwondo Grand Prix ©Getty Images

Reigning Paralympic champions Guljonoy Naimova of Uzbekistan and Juan Diego García López of Mexico starred at the inaugural Para taekwondo Grand Prix in Sofia in Bulgaria.

On the course to victory in the women’s over-65 kilograms category, Naimova defeated Britain’s former world champion Amy Truesdale 15-10.

Meanwhile, García López dominated Azerbaijan’s Imamaddin Khalilov 15-4 to come out on top in the men's under-70 division.

The two athletes struck gold to become the only fighters to win titles at the Paralympic Games, World Championships and Grand Prix.

"I always dreamed of competing in a Grand Prix because it means you are part of an Olympic sport," Naimova told World Para Taekwondo.

"Winning a Grand Prix has always been my dream."

Tokyo 2020 bronze medallist Mahmut Bozteke achieved gold for Turkey after bettering Mongolia’s five-time world champion Bolor-Erdene Ganbat in the semi-finals and beating Brazil’s Paralympic champion Nathan Torquato in his final.

Mahmut Bozteke was one of the gold medallists for Turkey at the first Para taekwondo Grand Prix ©Getty Images
Mahmut Bozteke was one of the gold medallists for Turkey at the first Para taekwondo Grand Prix ©Getty Images

Bozteke’s compatriot Ali Can Özcan also secured a title, besting world champion Asaf Yasur of Israel in the men’s under-58kg category.

World champion Khwansuda Phuangkitcha of Thailand overcame Mongolia’s Enkhtuya Khurelbaatar to take the women’s under-47 title while Silvana Cardoso of Brazil stormed to victory in the women’s under-57kg event.

Also winning gold was Turkey’s world champion Meryem Cavdar in the men’s under-52 class.

Afghan refugee athlete Zakia Khodadadi won bronze, beating six-time world champion Vika Marchuk of Ukraine in a rematch from the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics.

A total of 85 athletes from 24 countries, in addition to Khodadadi, participated in the invite-only event, with 19 countries from four continents claiming medals.