The Netherlands' Femke Kok was in fine form on day one of the ISU World Junior Speed Skating Championships in Tomaszów Mazowiecki ©Getty Images

The Netherlands' Femke Kok made a strong start in her bid to retain the women's all-round title at the International Skating Union World Junior Speed Skating Championships in Tomaszów Mazowiecki, winning the 500 metres event and finishing second in the 1,500m competition.

The 19-year-old came out on top in the 500m in a time of 38.499sec at the Polish town’s Arena Lodowa.

Japan's Moe Kumagai was the silver medallist in 39.145, while Kok's fellow Dutchwoman Robin Groot took the bronze in 39.866.

In the 1,500m, Groot beat defending champion Kok to victory by a margin of 0.24 seconds, clocking a time of 2min 01.041sec.

Merel Conijn completed a Dutch podium sweep in 2:02.710.

Japan's Tsubasa Horikawa tasted victory in the men's 1,500m event ©ISU
Japan's Tsubasa Horikawa tasted victory in the men's 1,500m event ©ISU

Also held today were the men's 500m and 1,500m events.

In the 500m, Japan's Katsuhiro Kuratsubo claimed the win with a personal best time of 35.279.

Russia's Artem Arefyev finished second in 35.282 and Japan's Wataru Morishige rounded off the podium in 35.348.

There was also a Japanese winner in the 1,500m as Tsubasa Horikawa held off Russia's Stepan Chistiakov to triumph in 1:49.486.

Chistiakov was 0.39 seconds behind, while South Korea's Chung Jae-won, the reigning all-round champion, was 0.60 seconds off the pace in third spot.

Chung had earlier finished way down in 27th place in the 500m.

Action in Tomaszów Mazowiecki is due to continue tomorrow.