Organisers have said that the official entry number stands at 845 from 54 countries going into the competition, which is taking place on the Maritsa River, the same venue where the 2018 World Championships will be held.

Over the course of five days, 21 events will be staged.

Among the rowers going to Plovdiv include many who have featured in the World Cup this season, including France’s Rio 2016 Olympian Elodie Ravera-Scaramozzino, who finished second at the stage in Lucerne, Switzerland earlier this month.

She will be aiming for gold in the women’s singles sculls and faces opposition from last year’s silver medallist Lovisa Claesson of Sweden.

The men’s lightweight single sculls has the most entries at the Championships with 34 countries sending rowers.

These include Mexican Alexis Lopez Garcia, the bronze medallist from last year’s Championships.

Up against him will be Ninos Nikolaidis of Greece, a junior world champion in the men’s pairs alongside Ioannis Kalandaridis, and Brazilian Uncas Batista, who has made regular World Cup appearances during the season.

Home support will be behind Boris Yotov in the men’s singles sculls as the Bulgarian, who had rowed for Azerbaijan at Rio 2016, looks to top the podium.

However, three-time under-23 medallist and junior world champion Natan Wedrzycki-Szymczyk of Poland is also among the rowers who will be hoping for gold.

The competition is scheduled to run until Sunday (July 23).