Pareto, who was also a bronze medallist at Beijing 2008, defeated the Marrakech Grand Prix winner in golden score to win her second IJF Grand Slam title.

The 33-year-old marginally outworked Figueroa, who received her third shido in added time to hand the gold medal to her opponent.

The first bronze medal contest was won by home favourite Irina Dolgova, who overcame Japan's Tamami Yamazaki.

Serbia's Milica Nikolic triumphed in the second, beating Slovenia's Marusa Stangar.

Among today's other victors was Israel's Gili Cohen, who claimed her second IJF Grand Slam gold medal by defeating Spain's Ana Perez Box in the women's under-52kg final.

The former Baku Grand Slam winner floored Perez Box, who was appearing in an IJF Grand Slam final for the first time, with a ko-uchi-gari.

It was one of the best ippons on day one of competition. 

The first bronze medal was awarded to Belgium's Charline Van Snick at the expense of Portugal's Joana Ramos.

Russia's Natalia Kuziutina took the second with compatriot Daria Bobrikova unable to compete due to injury.

The one other women’s gold medallist was Canada's Christa Deguchi after she overcame Chinese Taipei’s Lien Chen-ling to win the under-57kg final.

Deguchi pinned down Lien for 20 seconds to seal her second IJF Grand Slam title in as many months having won in Paris in February.

Tokyo-based Lien was supported by fans from her company team, Komatsu, but lost out to the in-form former Japanese international.

The first bronze medal was won by Canada’s Jessica Klimkait, who thwarted Portugal's Telma Monteiro in golden score.

Japan's Haruka Funakubo secured the second as Austria's Sabrina Filzmoser missed out on a podium place.

In the men's under-60kg category, former world junior bronze medallist Unubold Lkhagvajamts won an IJF World Tour crown at his third attempt as the young Mongolian upset Japan's Yuma Oshima in the final.

The world number 169 was unseeded but proved too strong for his experienced opponent, who received his third and final shido in golden score for ducking under the grip of Lkhagvajamts.

The first bronze medal was won by The Netherlands' Tornike Tsjakadoea to the disappointment of Georgia's Lukhumi Chkhvimiani.

Russia's Albert Oguzov came away with the second after fellow countryman Islam Yashuev was restricted from taking part after his direct hansoku-make.

The men's under-66kg category saw France's Kilian Le Blouch, the Rome European Open champion, top an IJF Grand Slam podium for the first time at the expense of Russia's Isa Isaev.

Both judoka were in unchartered territory as they graced an IJF Grand Slam final for the first time and it was Le Blouch who had the decisive say as he caught the home judoka with an o-uchi-gari for a waza-ari score.

The first bronze medal was won by Israel's Baruch Shmailov with success over team-mate Tal Flicker.

Georgia's Bagrati Niniashvili stunned Japan's Taroh Fujisaka to join Shmailov on the third step of the podium.

Action in Ekaterinburg is due to continue tomorrow.

Competition will then conclude on Sunday (March 17). 

Watch all the action on Judo TV.