Denmark’s René Holten Poulsen is the defending champion in the K1M 500m and K1M 5,000m ©Getty Images

The 2016 European Canoe Association (ECA) European Canoe Sprint Championships are set to begin tomorrow in Moscow, where athletes from 37 nations are expected to battle it out for medals in the last major senior event of its kind ahead of this year's Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.

Although several big stars have opted to skip the event to concentrate on preparation for this year’s Olympics, a number of European and World Championship medallists are set to compete at the Krylatskoye Rowing Canal in Russia’s capital this weekend.

Among those entered in the three-day event is Denmark’s René Holten Poulsen, a Beijing 2008 Olympic silver medallist in the K2M 1,000 metres. 

The 27-year-old is the defending champion in the K1M 500m and K1M 5,000m and also won silver in the K1M 1,000m at last year's European Championships in Račice in Czech Republic.

Germany's Max Hoff beat Poulsen to top honours in the K1M 1,000m and will be looking to retain his title.

Other gold medallists from last year vying to keep hold of their crowns include Czech Republic's Martin Fuksa, Germany’s Franziska Weber and Serbia’s Marko Dragosavljevic - winners of the C1M 500m, K1W 1,000m and K1M 200m respectively.

Germany's Edina Mueller is among those expected to compete in the European Para-canoeing Championships
Germany's Edina Mueller is among those expected to compete in the European Para-canoeing Championships ©Getty Images

The ECA European Para-canoeing Championships are also due to take place in Moscow this weekend with six-time world champion Markus Mendy Swoboda in line to compete.

The Austrian will be joined by a host of other notable names, including German trio Edina Mueller, Ivo Kilian and Tom Kierey, Spain’s Javier Reja and Slovenia’s Dejan Fabcic.

An Opening Ceremony for both Championships is scheduled for today.