Idowu's fourth attempt of 17.81m was a new personal best and enough to see off Romania's Marian Oprea, who won silver, and beaten favourite TeddyTamgho.
Mo Farah is strongly fancied in the 10, 000m, with another medal shot in the 5, 000m should he be able to get the longer race out of his legs, while world triple jump champion Phillips Idowu could benefit from the recent injury problems of French youngster TeddyTamgho.