European champion Daria Bilodid of the Ukraine secured the women's under 48 kilograms gold medal in style ©IJF

European champion Daria Bilodid of the Ukraine secured the women's under 48 kilograms gold medal in style on the opening day of the International Judo Federation Grand Prix in Tunis.

The Ukrainian wasted little time as she beat Alexandra Pop of Romania by ippon within the first few seconds of the final at the El Menzah Sports Hall.

The result saw Bilodid claim the first major IJF medal of 2018 in the Tunisian capital, making its return to the Grand Prix calendar following an eight-year absence.

The bronze medals in the category were earned by Ukraine's Maryna Cherniak and Mei Tanaka of Japan after they overcame Uzbekistan's Diyora Keldiyorova and Spain's Julia Figueroa respectively.

Three-time Grand Prix Gold medallist Distria Krasniqi of Kosovo was denied a fourth crown as she was beaten by Brazil's Jessica Pereira in the final of the women's under 52kg division.

In a meeting of the top two seeds, Pereira took advantage of a mistake by Krasniqi to clinch victory by ippon.

Mai Kose of Japan and Slovenia's Anja Stangar won bronze medals after they defeated Astride Gneto of France and Turkey's Irem Korkmaz respectively. 

Shakhram Akhadov of Uzbekistan had to work harder than most for his gold medal as he sealed the men's under 66kg crown, beating Japan's Taroh Fujisaka, left, after seven minutes of a golden score ©IJF
Shakhram Akhadov of Uzbekistan had to work harder than most for his gold medal as he sealed the men's under 66kg crown, beating Japan's Taroh Fujisaka, left, after seven minutes of a golden score ©IJF

Kosovo were able to recover from Krasniqi's disappointment as Nora Gjakova delivered a gold medal by beating Kwon You-jeong of South Korea in the under 57kg category. 

Panama's Miryam Roper defeated Jaione Equisoain of Spain to win the first bronze medal available before Sarah Leonie Cysique of France joined her on the podium with victory over Kaja Kajzer of Slovenia.

Shakhram Akhadov of Uzbekistan had to work harder than most for his gold medal as he sealed the men's under 66kg crown after emerging victorious from a gruelling final against Japan's Taroh Fujisaka.

The two could not be separated after regulation time and seven minutes of golden score passed before Akhadov was declared the winner.

Bronze medals were won by Aram Grigoryan of Russia and Yerlan Serikzhanov of Kazakhstan after they swept aside Mohamed Abdelmawgoud of Egypt and Russia's Isa Isaev respectively.

Former European champion Walide Khyar of France returned to past glories in the men's under 60kg division, defeating Slovenia's Matjaz Trbovc with a brilliant ippon to take the gold medal.

The first available bronze medal was claimed by Seiya Miyanohara of Japan after he beat Britain's Ashley McKenzie.

Kazakhstan's Gusman Kyrgyzbayev then proved too strong for four-time African champion Yassine Moudatir of Morocco in the other bronze medal bout.

To watch the latest action on Judo TV, click here.