The European nation secured seven golds, eight silvers and four bronze during the three-day event, where competition in 87 divisions was held.

They were followed on the podium by Spain, who managed 12 medals, comprised of six golds, three silvers and three bronze.

Hosts Croatia finished third having clinched 27 medals, the most of any competing nation, which included five golds, nine silvers and three bronze.

Participants from 44 countries left the Croatian town with a medal.

Nearly 500 young karatekas took part in the Youth Cup, which began on Friday (July 1) with the competition for athletes aged 10 to 13 - a brand-new category - before cadet, junior and under-21 categories took centre stage over the weekend.

The Youth Cup was held after a four-day Youth Training Camp, where a number of the sport’s leading names staged instruction sessions for the participants.

Around 1,000 aspiring karatekas took part in the sessions, led by the likes of Brazil’s Douglas Brose and Italy’s Luca Valdesi.

Those involved in coaching include Brose, a two-time world champion considered one of Brazil's best karatekas of all time, and Italy's world and European champion Valdesi.

Azerbaijan’s Rafael Aghayev, a multiple European and world champion at under 70 kilograms and under 75kg, and WKF Athletes Commission chair Davide Benetello were among others involved.

The hopeful young karatekas enjoyed the anticipated moment of meeting some of their idols, a WKF statement claimed, while karate heroes acting as instructors showed their enthusiasm for passing their experiences and knowledge to the avid youngsters.

The Youth Training Camp and Karate1 Youth Cup event as a whole has been described as “extraordinary” by the WKF.

"It was time to collect memories, knowledge and experiences for over a thousand participants who enjoyed an event that will remain in the annals of the sport as a true celebration of youth karate,” the governing body said.