SHE wasn’t even fully fit but Lauren Williams still had it in her to claim a second successive European taekwondo title in Russia over the weekend.

The 19-year-old from Blackwood beat double Olympic medallist and world champion Nur Tatar 14-11 in the -67kg final in Kazan despite picking up an injury in the semis.

In winning, Williams matched fellow Welsh fighter Jade Jones in becoming a two-time European champion – Jones also won gold in Russia just 24 hours before Williams.

Williams first made an impact on the senior stage when winning her maiden European crown in Switzerland in 2016.

Since then she has been successful on a regular basis, with a breakthrough gold at the World Grand Prix in London last October one of several highlights.

Among the favourites for the European Championships, Williams had a bye into round two and then beat Portugal’s Sofia Cruz 33-13.

A 13-10 quarter-final defeat of Poland’s Anika Godel-Chelmecka followed, while Italian Daniela Rotolo was despatched 26-14 in the last four.

In the final she came up against a woman who she had beaten on the way to that triumph in London last autumn.

On that occasion it was a golden-point triumph for the Welsh teen, and there wasn’t much between the two in Russia.

However, Williams came out on top again, albeit by a narrow three-point margin.

“It hasn’t sunk in yet,” said Williams, who joined Jones and Christian McNeish on top of the podium in Kazan.

“I picked up an injury in the semi-final and that was my focus, so I haven’t celebrated or enjoyed it as much as I should, but I am sure I will wake up buzzing.

“In the final I was restricted because of the injury so I just had to do what I could to get the win.

“It wasn’t the best I have ever performed but I got the job done in the end.”

Britain enjoyed their best ever European Championships with seven medals – three gold, one silver and three bronze.