Jones scored four points in the first round, then saw off a fightback from Zaninovic to end the second round 9-6 ahead. She never relinquished that lead and in the end prevailed 12-9.

"I didn't have the best of days and I scraped through the other fights but I was better in the final," said the European Games champion. "After the disappointment of the world championships (last month), I hope this will get my confidence right up. Rio is just around the corner."

In the men's -68kg final, Aykhan Taghizade was clearly overjoyed as he celebrated his win over Karol Robak of Poland by golden point in the final at Crystal Hall. After landing a fist punch 16 seconds into the decider he ran to his coach and fell to his knees.

Supported by a loudly cheering crowd, Taghizade had already despatched the London 2012 Olympic champion Joel Gonzalez Bonilla of Spain in the quarter-final and relegated world silver medallist, Russia's Alexey Denisenko, to the bronze medal match.

 

(baku2015.com)