Alina Böhm won a maiden senior European title in Sofia ©Getty Images

Alina Böhm won a shock women’s under-78 kilograms gold medal on the final of the European Judo Championships in Sofia, defeating Dutch athlete Guusje Steenhuis in the final.

The German showed no signs of past injuries affecting her and also beat Italy’s Olympian and former world junior champion Alice Bellandi in the semi-finals.

"I felt really good in my skin today, I didn’t really have expectation, I just wanted to go fight by fight and felt strong, each contest was better and better," Böhm said.

"It was actually a special day for me, I can feel the magic in this hall because I won my cadet European title here in 2015, it is so amazing that I managed to do it again."

Bellandi responded to overcome German opponent Luise Malzahn to claim bronze, while France’s Madeleine Malonga - a former world champion - achieved the same success in her bout against Patricia Sampaio of Portugal.

France enjoyed greater success in the women’s over-78kg category as Romane Dicko got the better of Israel’s Raz Hershko in the final.

Italy secured another bronze through an Asya Tavano victory versus Poland's Kinga Wolszczak.

Sebile Akbulut increased Turkey’s medal tally once she condemned The Netherlands’ Marit Kamps to defeat in their bronze-medal match.

Georgia’s world bronze medallist Luka Maisuradze dared to dream a golden dream in the men's under-90kg class, overcoming Serbia’s Darko Brasnjovic in a tough final.

Theodoros Tselidis of Greece and Mammadali Mehdiyev of Azerbaijan achieved bronze medals in the division.

The Netherlands’ Michael Korrel upset his competition today as he progressed past two-time world champions Jorge Fonseca of Portugal and Nikoloz Sherazadishvili of Spain to reach the under-100kg semi-finals.

The world bronze medallist bettered compatriot Simeon Catharina in the final four before bettering Poland’s Piotr Kuczera to pick up the gold.

Michael Korrel beat two current world champions en route to gold ©Getty Images
Michael Korrel beat two current world champions en route to gold ©Getty Images

Sherazadishvili progressed to claim one of the bronze medals, as did Switzerland’s Daniel Eich.

Sherazadishvili is the division's reigning world champion, while Fonseca is also a reigning world champion but at a lower weight, so Korrel's victory is a special one.

The European Judo Championships concluded with another Dutch gold medal as Jur Spijkers upset Georgia’s Olympic silver medallist Guram Tushishvili in the semi-finals before leaving Germany’s Johannes Frey on floor to win the over-100kg title.

Tushishvili settled for bronze alongside Roy Meyer of The Netherlands.

France topped the medals table at Armeets Arena, with three gold, two sliver and three bronze, while the Dutch shot up to second thanks to a brilliant final day.