Four gold medals were on offer on day one ©ETU

Portugal’s Rui Braganca successfully defended his European Taekwondo Championships title with a golden point victory over Ron Atias of Israel in the final of the under 58 kilograms category in Montreux today.

Braganca, the current world number two, came up against a stern opponent in the gold medal bout and, after the two taekwondo players couldn’t be separated after the regulation time, he struck in the golden period to ensure he topped the podium at the Salle omnisports du Pierrier.

The bronze medals in the category went the way of Britain’s Feyi Pearce and Ruslan Poiseev as both athletes couldn’t make it past the semi-final stage.

“I feel so amazing, I am really happy for winning this medal, it was a hard fight and I did not believe I could make it again, since is the second time this has happened,” Braganca said.

“Mt first medal was in Baku two years ago and I am really glad that I made it again.

“This championship was a huge challenge for me, I gained and I learned many elements that are going to help my preparation for the Olympic Games in Rio 2016.”

Mourad Laachraoui of Belgium ensured his family name was in the limelight for positive reasons as he sealed gold in the men’s under 54kg event by overcoming Jesus Tortosa Cabrera of Spain 6-3.

Laachraoui’s brother Najim was a suicide bomber in the attacks on Brussels Airport in March as 31 were killed and 260 injured in co-ordinated incidents in the Belgian city, with a bomb also going off at the metro station.

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Portugal, Belgium, Ukraine and Serbia topped the podium as the competition opened in Montreux ©ETU

Russia secured two bronze in the weight class thanks to Stanislav Denisov and Mikhail Artamonov.

Tijana Bogdanovic of Serbia claimed the women’s under 49kg in contrasting fashion to the Portuguese as she romped to a 7-0 win against Ana Petrusic of Slovenia.

Alexandra Lychagina added another medal to the Russian haul with bronze, while the other in the category was earned by Croatia’s Lucija Zaninovic.

Iryna Romoldanova of the Ukraine was able to avenge her defeat in the final at the 2014 European Championships in Baku as she beat Hajer Mustapha of France en route to the top of the podium in the under 46kg category.

The Ukrainian took the gold with a narrow 3-0 success over Spain’s Blanca Palmer Soler, while Mustapha clinched bronze along with Rukiye Yildirim.

Action in Montreux continues tomorrow.