Croatia's Jelena Kovacevic retires after European Games karate silver

Croatia's Jelena Kovacevic has announced her retirement from karate following her silver medal win at the European Games in Baku, adding that it is a "beautiful end" to her career.

The veteran karateka, who has been competing since 2003, lost out on the gold medal to Emily Thouy in the women's kumite -55kg final on Saturday.

Kovacevic told reporters: "This is the last competition in which I will participate in. I got medals in Mediterranean Games, Combat Games and World Games and now I've got my last medal in the first European Games.

"I am happy to get a silver medal. In karate a lot depends on the judges and the fight is very short. In the final fight we had a 1-1 score and I lost in the last five seconds.

"This is the first medal for Croatia in European Games. First for Croatia and last in my life. I am 30 and this is a beautiful end to my career."

All karate medals at the European Games will be settled on Saturday and Sunday.