Home favourite Vladimir Malkov will be among the favourites for success at the BWF Russian Open Grand Prix in Vladivostok ©BWF

Home favourite Vladimir Malkov will be among the favourites for success at the Badminton World Federation (BWF) Russian Open Grand Prix in Vladivostok, where action is due to begin tomorrow.

The 31-year-old has received a first-round bye and is due to begin his men’s singles campaign at the Sport Hall Olympic against Belgium’s Maxime Moreels.

Malkov, the second seed, was beaten in the semi-finals of last year's competition.

He lost to eventual champion Zulfadli Zulkiffli of Malaysia, who is not registered to compete this year.

India's Siril Verma, last year's runner-up, is in the field and starts his bid for glory with a first-round match against Russia's Andrey Parakhodin.

The defending champion in the women’s singles, India’s Gadde Ruthvika Shivani, is not present.

The player who she beat in last year’s final is however with Russia’s Evgeniya Kosetskaya seeded second.

Malaysia’s Soniia Cheah is the top seed in the women's singles competition ©Getty Images
Malaysia’s Soniia Cheah is the top seed in the women's singles competition ©Getty Images

First up for Kosetskaya is a meeting with compatriot Anastasia Redkina.

Malaysia’s Soniia Cheah, the world number 23, is the top seed and is set to face Russia’s Polina Makogonova in the first round.

Russia’s Natalia Perminova, who lost to Kosetskaya in last year’s semi-finals, is seeded third.

Her opening match is against France’s Yaelle Hoyaux.