Costa took on Azerbaijan’s Dursadaf Karimova in the over-70 kilograms gold medal match, winning by default after Karimova picked up three shido at the RDS Stadium. 

Both athletes were penalised early on for being too passive. 

However, it was a third and final warning for the Azeri judoka for taking too long to get into position at the re-start that signalled the end of the match.

It was Costa’s second appearance on a major podium having also collected bronze at last year’s IBSA Judo World Championships.

Anastaciia Harynk secured bronze for Ukraine alongside Turkey’s Mesme Taşbağ.

Russia’s Abdula Kuramagomedov delivered the shock of the season so far in the men’s up to 100kg, beating Georgian world champion Zviad Gogotchuri.

Going into the fight Gogotchuri was unbeaten in either the up to 90kg or his current weight category, which he switched to after winning the Paralympic Games gold medal at Rio 2016. 

The Georgian, wary of Kuramagomedov’s abilities and taller frame, tried to end the fight quickly from the start but the Russian resisted.

It was a mistake from Gogotchuri, kneeling into a throw, that led to Kuramagomedov turning him over for what was originally given as a wazari but was then changed to an ippon on review.

Great Britain’s defending champion Christopher Skelley took bronze this time around. 

He shared the podium with Azerbaijan’s Kanan Abdullakhanli.

Georgia did however get to the top step in the men’s over-100kg.

Revaz Chikoidze took on Azerbaijan’s multiple medallist Ilham Zakiyev in a match that pitched an experienced champion against one in the ascendancy.

Chikoidze, competing in his only his third competition having made his debut at the IBSA Judo Grand Prix in May, felled the towering Zakiyev and held him for ippon to take gold.

It was the Georgian’s second gold in three weeks having also taken the win at the Tokyo 2020 International Qualifier in Fort Wayne in the United States earlier in July.

Russia’s Gaidar Gaidarov rounded off the podium with Great Britain’s Jack Hodgson.

Khanim Huseynova took Azerbaijan’s first gold of the competition in the women’s up to 63kg.

It took her just a few seconds to overturn Russia’s World Championships bronze medallist Olga Pozdnysheva to retain her European title.

Sweden’s Nicolina Pernheim was delighted with her bronze medal, her second podium finish of the month having also finished third in Fort Wayne.

Turkey’s Duygu Çete Artar also took home a bronze.

Arta's team-mate Raziye Uluçam won her first major international title in the women’s up to 70kg.

Uluçam faced Russian European champion Olga Zabrodskaia, successfully putting her on her back for gold.

Croatia’s Lucija Breskovic and Russia’s Elena Popova were the bronze medallists.

Russia’s Ruslan Albagachiev emerged the victor from an all-Russian contest in the men’s up to 81kg.

Quickly achieving an ippon over 2017 bronze medallist Shamil Magomedov, it was Albagachiev’s first major international title having debuted in 2018.

Azerbaijan’s Huseyn Rahimli, a World Championships silver medallist, collected bronze and Ukraine’s Dmytro Solovey joined him on the podium.

Ukrainian world champion and Paralympic silver medallist Oleksandr Nazarenko ground out two wazari to win his men’s up to 90kg fight against France’s Helios Latchoumanaya.

Great Britain’s Elliot Stewart delivered a beautiful throw for ippon for the bronze medal against Russia’s Vladimir Fedin. 

Germany’s Marc Milano was also third.

The final day of action tomorrow is setl see countries go for gold in the mixed team.

 The event is being showcased for only the second time having made its debut in Fort Wayne.

Around 130 athletes from 18 countries are taking part in the Championships.