In the men’s under 68 kilograms event, Turkey's Servet Tazegul, the London 2012 gold medallist, is set to compete along with under 58kg Olympic champion Joel Gonzalez Bonilla of Spain.

Beijing 2008 gold medallist Dong-min Cha of South Korea is again expected to do well in the under 80kg division, while Italian Carlo Molfetta, who topped the podium in the over 80kg event at London 2012, will also take to the mat in the Russian capital.

Double Olympic under 67kg champion Kyung-seon Hwang of South Korea leads the list of female competitors and will be the one to beat after reigning supreme at Beijing 2008 and London 2012.

Great Britain’s first-ever Olympic gold medallist Jade Jones, winner of the under 57kg category on home soil in London, is also competing, along with Serbia's Milica Mandiz, the over 68kg champion.

Beijing 2008 over 67kg champion, Maria Espinoza of Mexico, completes the list of women who will be hoping to add Grand Prix gold to their respective Olympic titles.

The event itself, due to begin tomorrow and last until Sunday (August 16) will see 245 athletes from 52 countries compete.

Winners will take home $5,000 (£3,000/€4,500), with $3,000 (£2,000/€2,7000) on offer for runners-up and $1,000 (£640/€900) for those who finish third.

The top 31 in each weight category based on their WTF world rankings have been invited to compete, with one additional home taekwondo player also allowed to compete.

"I expect the Moscow Grand Prix Series 1 will serve as an opportunity for the top elite athletes to display their skills," WTF President Chungwon Choue said.

"Also I hope all invited athletes will come and enjoy the thrilling moments of competition and friendship in Moscow."

The event is due to be followed by Grand Prixs in Samsun, Turkey, from September 18 to 20 and Manchester, England, from October 16 to 18, before the final in Mexico City in December.

"The Moscow Grand Prix Series 1 is the highest-level tournament where the best out of the best athletes have their great chance to challenge for the first prizes of the championships, as well as to gain their opportunity in the most prestigious Games of the world," said Russian Taekwondo Union President Anatoly Terekhov.

"The WTF World Taekwondo Grand Prix Series 1 is one of the most significant steps on the Olympic way toward Rio 2016."



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