Their team finished the Championships in the Kazakhstan capital with a total of 42 medals, including 20 golds.

World champion Amir Mehdizadeh led the Iranian challenge, as he successfully defended his men’s under-60 kilogram kumite title.

He saw off the challenge of Uzbekistan’s rising star Sadriddin Saymatov, who had eyed an upset having secured three golds in three Karate 1-Premier League tournaments this year.

Mehdizadeh’s triumph continued his dominance of the event, having now claimed two world and continental crowns so far in his career.

Iran proved the dominant nation in team competitions, winning both the men’s and women’s kumite events.

Their men’s team saw off the challenge of Saudi Arabia in the final, before their women’s team overcame Chinese Taipei.

There was disappointment for Iran’s Sajad Ganjzadeh in the men's over-84kg kumite event, as the world champion was surprisingly beaten by young Saudi Arabian talent Tareg Hamedi.

Japan’s Ryo Kiyuna, the men’s kata world champion, saw off the challenge of surprise package Zigi Zaresta Yuda of Indonesia in today’s final.

Kiyuna remains unbeaten since 2013 and look to preserve his record when he competes at the World Games in Wrocław.

Emiri Iwamoto added to the Japanese medal tally by winning the women’s kata event, overcoming Indonesia’s Sisilia Ora.

Japan’s Ayaka Tadano and Kayo Someya won the women’s 50kg and 68kg kumite divisions, while world champion Ayumi Uekusa won the over 68kg event.

Mayasa Ishizuka completed Japan’s gold medal haul by winning the men’s 84kg kumite event.

Chinese Taipei’s Tzu-Yun Wen and China’s Xiaoyan Yin won the women’s 55kg and 61kg kumite divisions.