Abdulrashid Sadulaev of Russia will be aiming to defend his European title in Rome ©Getty Images

Sixteen wrestlers are set to return to defend their European Wrestling Championship titles, with competition getting under way tomorrow in the Italian capital of Rome.

In the freestyle competition, reigning World and European champion in the under-97 kilogram division, Abdulrashid Sadulaev of Russia, will be in action at the PalaPellicone. 

Frank Chamizo Marguez will be defending his under-74kg title in front of a home crowd, while Arsen Harutyunyan will be aiming to retain his under-61kg European crown. 

Four reigning European champions are expected to appear in the Greco-Roman contest, including Riza Kayaalp of Turkey, who is also the over-130kg world champion. 

Vitalii Kaboloev of Russia will be back in the under-55kg category, Victor Ciobanu of Moldova will fight in the under-63kg and Rajbek Alvievich Bisultanov of Denmark is set to feature in the under-82kg.

Alla Cherkasova of Ukraine will be in action in the under-68kg division at the European Wrestling Championships ©Getty Images
Alla Cherkasova of Ukraine will be in action in the under-68kg division at the European Wrestling Championships ©Getty Images

The women's competition is littered with star names.

Ukraine are well represented, with Oksana Livach aiming to defend her title in the under-50kg, Iryna Husyak in the under-53kg, Alla Cherkasova in the under-68kg and Alina Berezhna Stadnik Makhynia in the under-72kg. 

In total, 515 athletes are set to compete across the freestyle, Greco-Roman and women's events. 

Competition runs until Sunday (February 16). 

It is the fifth time Italy have hosted the historic tournament, having previously held it in 1994, 1969, 1934 and 1925.