Kosovo’s Majlinda Kelmendi has claimed her third continental crown ©Getty Images

Kosovo’s Majlinda Kelmendi has claimed her third continental crown after beating Russia’s Alesya Kuznetsova in the final of the women’s under 52 kilograms category at the European Judo Championships in Poland’s capital Warsaw.

The 25-year-old registered an ippon inside the last minute to add to her titles from 2014 and 2016.

Despite suffering from a neck injury, Kelmendi was too strong for the opposition at the Torwar Arena and showed why she is a two-time world champion and the reigning Olympic gold medallist.

Switzerland’s Evelyne Tschopp and Portugal’s Joana Ramos were the two bronze medallists at the expense of Italy’s Odette Giuffrida and Israel’s Gili Cohen respectively.

Women’s competition was also held today in the under 48kg category, which saw Ukraine’s Daria Bilodid add the European senior crown to the continental cadet and junior titles she already held. 

The 16-year-old managed to catch Russia’s Irina Dolgova for a winning waza-ari in the final.

She had earlier claimed a semi-final win over two-time European champion Eva Csernoviczki, who recovered to secure a bronze medal for Hungary with a win over Ukraine’s Maryna Cherniak.

Csernoviczki was joined on the third step of the podium by Romania’s Monica Ungureanu with Israel’s Noa Minsker just missing out.

Ukraine's Daria Bilodid added the women's under 48kg European senior title to the cadet and junior crowns she already held before today ©Getty Images
Ukraine's Daria Bilodid added the women's under 48kg European senior title to the cadet and junior crowns she already held before today ©Getty Images

Another female judoka tasting victory today was France’s Priscilla Gneto after she overcame Germany’s Theresa Stoll in the under 57kg category final. 

Kosovo’s Nora Gjakova beat Bulgaria’s Ivelina Ilieva to one of the two bronze medals, while France’s Helene Receveaux saw off Russia’s Irina Zabludina in the battle for the other.

Ukraine were the only nation to win two gold medals today with their other coming courtesy of Georgii Zantaraia in the men’s under 66kg category.

Slovenia’s Adrian Gomboc had to settle for silver, while Azerbaijan’s Nijat Shikhalizada and Slovakia’s Matej Poliak completed the podium to the disappointment of Belarus’ Dzmitry Minkou and Israel’s Baruch Shmailov.

The one other title to be awarded today, that in the men’s under 60kg category, went the way of Russia’s Robert Mshvidobadze with Bulgaria’s Yanislav Gerchev finishing in the runners-up spot.

Number one seed Orkhan Safarov of Azerbaijan fell victim to Mshvidobadze in the quarter-finals, but was still able to salvage a bronze medal ahead of Georgia’s Amiran Papinashvili.

Papinashvili’s compatriot Lukhumi Chkhvimiani lost the other bronze medal contest as Spain’s Francisco Garrigos earned a podium place.

Competitions in the women's under 63kg and under 70kg, and the men's under 73kg and under 81kg divisions are due to take place tomorrow. 

Watch all the latest judo action on Judo TV here.