The three-day competition will see nearly 400 athletes from 59 countries descend on the Chinese city, famous for its Tsingtao Brewery, in search of Grand Prix titles, as well as vital qualification points for next year's Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. 

France's eigning women’s World Championships gold medallist Gevrise Emane looks to be the judoka to beat in the under 70 kilograms category, while over 78kg competitor Yu Song, who was also victorious at the IJF’s flagship competition in Astana in August, will also compete before his home crowd.

America's world number one Kayla Harrison will be hoping to recreate the form which saw her crowned Olympic champion at London 2012 in the under 78kg weight category when she bids for a first gold of the campaign since the World Masters event in Morocco in May.

In the men’s competition, double World Champion Teddy Riner of France heads the field in the over 100kg discipline, with South Korea’s Abu Dhabi Grand Slam winner Kim Sung-Min likely to provide the toughest test.

Mongolian Tumurkhuleg Davaadorj, winner of the gold medal at the Paris Grand Slam in October, will go into the men’s under 66kg competition as the favourite, while 2014 World Championships silver medallist Krisztian Toth of Hungary is the top seed in the under 90kg event.

The tournament in Qingdao represents the seventh time the Grand Prix event has come to the Chinese city and two more stops on the circuit are scheduled before the end of the year.

Jeju in South Korea is due play host to the ninth IJF Grand Prix from November 26 to 28 before Japanese capital Tokyo is scheduled to stage the final event of the season from December 4 to 6.

“I believe that this event will not only improve the Chinese judo level, but it will also benefit to the friendship between all countries and regions, and also provide a better platform for the judoka around the world to accumulate experience in international competitions and to improve their techniques,” Fengshan Xiong, vice-president of the Chinese Judo Association, said.

“Judo has improved and become more and more popular in China.

“The development and advancement of judo in our country has always received great support and concerns from the International Judo Federation.

“On behalf of the Chinese Judo Association, I would like to express our sincere gratitude to President Marius Vizer and to the IJF for the long-term support.”

The event is due to begin with the women's under 48kg, under 52kg and under 57kg, as well as men's under 60kg and under 60kg, tomorrow.

To watch the latest action on Judo TV click here.

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