Ivory Coast's Cissé’s experience ultimately told in a thrilling final as the Ivorian defeated his Greek opponent at the Ano Liosia Olympic Indoor Hall.

His triumph came on the same day that compatriot Ruth Gbagbi, the world champion and a Rio 2016 bronze medallist, sealed victory in the women’s under 67kg category with a 12-2 win over Croatia’s Matea Jelic.

It comes just under a month after the 24-year-old suffered a surprise final defeat at the African Taekwondo Championships in Agadir in Morocco.

"After the African Championships I was so disappointed, so I went to the gym and worked really hard with my coach Juan Ramos and Ruth Gbagbi, my team-mate and fellow champion," Cissé said.

"I worked so hard to get ready and today I had some good wins which gave me courage to fight.

"In the final, I had to fight hard with Apostolos Telikostoglou, who did a great job all day and was on form.

"But I am a champion.

"I always adapt and I produced my best fight to take the gold."

Russia's Andrei Zemledeltsev and France's Ismael Bouzid Souhili were the men's under 80kg bronze medallists. 

Rounding out the women's under 67kg podium was Russia's Polina Khan and Greece's Athanasia Mitsopoulou.

Also tasting victory today was Turkey’s Hatice Kubra Ilgun after the world silver medallist overcame Croatia’s Bruna Vuletic 11-0 in the women’s under 57kg final.

Latvia’s Jolanta Tarvida and Canada’s Frederique Santerre were the bronze medallists.

In the men’s under 87kg event, Russia’s Rafael Kamalov beat Spain’s Antonio Artal Yera to top honours.

The bronze medals went to Turkey’s Muhammet Sari and Russia’s Gleb Zaharov.

The World Taekwondo President’s Cup for the Europe region is being held for the third time.

It is organised by World Taekwondo Europe and supported by the South Greek Taekwondo Union.

Taking centre stage tomorrow are the men’s under 54kg and under 68kg categories, and the women’s under 46kg and under 53kg divisions.