London paved in gold for Danny Williams
Shrewsbury's Commonwealth Games champion Danny Williams has won a gold medal at the London Open Judo Championships.
Williams, who won 73kg gold at Glasgow 2014, was competing at the higher 81kg in the capital.
But he made light work of the extra weight and, after enjoying a bye in the first round, won all of his other contests by ippon – the maximum score in judo and the equivalent to a stoppage victory in boxing.
Williams, who took his first steps in the sport at Bushido Judokwai in Shrewsbury, said: "This was great preparation for the Grand Prix in Hungary in three weeks' time.
"I will compete there in my normal weight."
Williams, who represented Team GB at the London 2012 Olympics, has come a long way in the sport since he started aged just four years old under the tutelage of Roger Houston.
The former Meole Brace School student now trains full time at Camberley Judo Club in Surrey.
His finest hour came last year in Glasgow when he triumphed in the Commonwealth Games as a late replacement for Reading fighter Ben Fletcher, who withdrew with a knee injury.
And he made the most of his chance, defeating New Zealand's Adrian Leat by Waza-ari in the final at the SECC Precinct.
After competing in Hungary, Williams will also be aiming for success in the British Open which takes place at the SSE Arena in Wembley in the middle of July.
