BLACKWOOD's Lauren Williams returned to winning ways at taekwondo's European Games in Italy.

Williams and triple world champion Bianca Walkden were on top of the podium in Bari as Great Britain fighters claimed four medals, with Bradly Sinden and Jade Jones claiming silvers to strengthen their cases for selection for next year's Olympics in Tokyo.

And it has been a profitable few days for the Manchester trained squad with Amy Truesdale securing a bronze medal at the Para Taekwondo European Games.

Williams was a runner-up in the Sofia leg of the World Grand Prix and at the Australian Open but returned to winning ways against Magda Wiet Henin in the -67kg final. The 20-year-old led 32-14 before Henin withdrew through injury.

Liverpudlian Walkden made it third time lucky after finishing runner-up at the Sofia and Chiba legs of the World Grand Prix.

A 22-7 victory over Germany's Lorena Brandl earned the Rio 2016 Olympic bronze medallist gold in the heavyweight division. She also landed an 18-8 semi-final win over London 2012 Olympic champion, Milica Mandic.

Yorkshire star Sinden defeated Belgian Si Mohamed Ketbi 29-16 in the semi-finals of the -68kg division.

But he met his match in the final losing 19-11 to Javier Perez Polo as the Spaniard avenged his defeat in this year's World Championship final in Manchester.

London heavyweight Mahama Cho lost his quarter-final bout 28-17 against Aiukaev Rafail.

Jade Jones, who has fought sparingly since winning her maiden world title last May, contested the final at -57kg but lost 22-9 against Turkey's Irem Yaman.

Chester's Truesdale stayed on course for next year's Paralympic Games when taekwondo makes its competition debut. She won bronze after a 16-8 defeat to Guljonoy Naimova of Uzbekistan.

"I am disappointed with the semi-final result," she said. "But I am fortunate to be in a position to learn and improve before the Games."