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.