Powell fights her way to European bronze in Poland

The Welsh judoka defeated Karen Stevenson, of the Netherlands, with a throw for ippon to win her second bronze medal in succession at the European Championships.

One of the top seeds in the -78kg category, Powell beat Poland's Beata Pacut in the first round, before taking down Slovenia's Klara Apotekar via waza-ari to earn a place in the semi-finals.

However Dutchwoman Guusje Steenhuis, the world number one, proved too much for Powell as her opponent threw her for ippon to book her place in the final.

That left Powell to face Stevenson, and pick up the bronze medal.

"Today it felt good to get back on the mat and compete," she said. "My preparation has not been great (due to injury) but I am pleased to get on the rostrum and deliver a good performance.

"I feel I've got a lot to work on and develop in the coming months but I'm excited for the challenges ahead. I will be concentrating now on the Worlds in August."

The medal was a second for Britain in two days, after Alice Schlesinger's bronze on Friday, and elite performance coach Kate Howey was pleased with the team's showing in Poland.

"On the whole the team have performed well and the youngsters have shown some good potential," she said.

"To come away with two medals and two seventh places is good at this level and this early on in the road to Tokyo 2020."

Sportsbeat 2017