Two sisters who practice taekwondo have saved a 70-year-old man from a violent gang of thugs.

Shanna and Michelle Kovalenko, aged 29 and 21 respectively, rescued Tiziano Toppan, 70, from the attack in San Dona in Veneto in northern Italy on the night of 11th July, when the national team beat England on penalties in the final of the European Championship.

The two sisters said they saw an elderly man being attacked by a group of youths and intervened.

The pretty taekwondo practitioners said an 18-year-old thug was the first to hit the OAP before several pals joined in.

They said one gang member was holding the elderly man back while others punched him.

The OAP was lying on the ground and still being attacked when the have-a-go sisters showed up.

They said they were driving past when they saw what was going on and stopped the car.

Michelle said she ran out of the car without shoes on and both women did not have anything to defend themselves with.

The sisters said they soon stopped the attack with the help of other passersby, and one woman called the emergency services to inform them.

Michelle is a third dan black belt in taekwondo, a Korean martial art characterised by punching and kicking techniques. Shanna also practices taekwondo as well as swimming and ballet.

The sisters have always been very active thanks to their mother, who is related to famous Italian actress Moira Orfei, and father, who works as a security guard.

Michelle is also a second-year student of Motor Sports Science at the University of Ferrara. Shana currently works as a dental assistant.

After helping Tiziano in the street, Michelle said: “Civic duty and solidarity are values we learned through sport and most importantly, our family.”

It was not revealed what the motive was for the attack, and there was no update on the man’s condition after he was freed by the two sisters.