Idalys Ortiz (right) looks in good shape as she prepares to defend her Olympic title ©IJF

Cuba's Olympic champion Idalys Ortiz claimed a confidence boosting win ahead of her title defence at Rio 2016 at the International Judo Federation (IJF) Almaty Grand Prix in Kazakhstan.

The 26-year-old world number two, possibly wearing the Olympic gold medallist's backpatch for the final time, saw off Kayra Sayit of Turkey, the European champion, on shido penalties in a tentative over 78kg final.

Pan American Championships bronze medallist Melissa Mojica won a medal of the same colour as the Puerto Rican beat Korean Kim Minjeong with a yuko.

Bosnian Larissa Ceric saw off Lithuania's Santa Pakenyte via shido penalties to claim the division's second bronze.

In the women's under 78kg class, Asian champion Zhehui Zhang came out on top with the Chinese judoka beating home hopeful Albina Amangeldiyeva in the final.

The Chinese scored a yuko to win her first Grand Prix event and all but assure her Rio 2016 place via the IJF rankings.

Cuba's Yalennis Castillo took bronze on shido penalties against Assunta Galeone of Italy, with Ukraine's Victoriia Turks winning the second by default after Britain's Olympic silver medallist Gemma Gibbons withdrew through injury.

France clinched gold in the men's under 90kg as Baku Grand Slam bronze medallist Axel Clerget saw off Asian Championships bronze medallist Cheng Xunzhao of China after a 15 second hold down.

Mihael Zgank of Slovenia took the first bronze as he beat Kazakhstan's Dauletkhan Zhakypov on shido penalties.

Axel Clerget won men's under 90kg gold
Axel Clerget won men's under 90kg gold ©IJF

Mammadali Mehdiyev of Azerbaijan also won a minor medal, beating African champion Abderrahmane Benamadi of Algeria with a textbook left-sided ouchi-gari which earned the maximum score.

In the men's under 100kg, another Azeri, former world champion Elkhan Mammadov, saw off Brazil's Samsun Grand Prix silver medal winner Rafael Buzacarini via waza-ari.

Iran took bronze as Javad Mahjoub gained two yuko scores against Hungary's Miklos Cirjenics, with Uzbekistan's Soyib Kurbonov also gaining a medal by beating top seeded Cuban Jose Armenteros with a yuko eight seconds from time.

Over 100kg glory went to Georgia's Adam Okruashvili who won with a yuko over Azerbaijan's Ushangi Kokauri.

Another Georgian, Levani Matiashvili, took bronze with an ippon against Tunisia's top seed Faicel Jaballah.

Algeria took the second bronze courtesy of Mohammed Amine Tayeb who won on shido penalties against Egyptian Islam El Shehaby.

The invite-only World Judo Masters in Guadalajara, Mexico, from May 27 to 29 will now close the Rio 2016 Olympic Games qualification phase.