The competition is scheduled to take place from February 22 to 28, with the European Shooting Confederation revealing they have registered athletes from a total of 47 countries to date, for the event in Györ in Hungary.

It expected the number of competitors will rise to 655 in the coming weeks ahead of the Championships.

Organisers expect the women’s 10m air rifle event to be one of the most eagerly anticipated competitions with a total of 93 starters expected to start the event and look to secure a podium position.

The event will also carry the added importance of offering athletes the opportunity to seal one of three berths up for grabs for Rio 2016.

A further three spots are on offer in the women’s 10m air pistol, where 74 athletes are due to take part, as well as the men’s air pistol and air rifle events, which have 83 and 71 competitors respectively.

The Championships will offer the intrigue of staging mixed team competitions on the official programme for the first time in history.

Teams will consist of one male and one female athlete from the same nation.

The ESC have also claimed that they expect 63 starters in the women’s junior 10m air rifle competition and 51 in the air pistol event when registration ends.

Meanwhile, 49 and 43 competitors are expected in the men’s air rifle and pistol events respectively.