The European Canoe Association’s annual event will involve around 200 athletes from 27 countries including, for the first time, Kosovo.

In men's kayak, 38-year-old Peter Kauzer of Slovenia will seek his third European title on the Vah River having won a silver medal at the same venue in 2007, as well as a team gold.

The competition will be fierce as it includes Olympic champion Jiří Prskavec of the Czech Republic, who won this title here in 2016, his team-mate Prindiš, who is the defending champion, and home paddler Jakub Grigar.

 Other top challengers include Briton Joseph Clarke, German Hannes Aigner, Italian Giovanni De Gennaro and Austrian Felix Oschmautz.

In women's kayak all eyes will be on the reigning Olympic and world champion Ricarda Funk, defending champion Kuhnle of Austria, Slovenian Eva Terčelj, last year's European silver medallist, Elena Lilik of Germany and local hopeful Eliška Mintalova.

Gargaud-Chanut, from France, is the defending men's C1 champion but home paddler Matej Benuš and Germany's Sideris Tasiadis are expected to contend, having been second and third in that order last year.

Olympic champion Benjamin Savšek of Slovenia is also on the entry list.

Spain's Lazkano returns to defending the women's canoe title.

The first sets of medals will be awarded tomorrow in the women's and men's kayak team events.

The European Championships will conclude on Sunday (May 29).