Athletes from some 160 IAAF Member Federations will compete across six days of action in Bydgoszcz's Zawisza Stadium ©IAAF

A total of 1,518 athletes have been entered to compete at the 2016 International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) World Under-20 Championships in Bydgoszcz, where competition is due to begin tomorrow.

The turnout, made up of 832 men and 686 women, is the second-biggest for the age group to date with the 2012 edition in Barcelona the only one to attract more, 1,566.

Athletes from some 160 IAAF Member Federations will compete across six days of action in the Polish city's Zawisza Stadium, which also hosted the event in 2008.

Bydgoszcz was awarded this year’s Championships in January after the Russian city of Kazan was stripped of hosting rights due to the country's suspension by the IAAF due to allegations of state-sponsored doping.

"On behalf of IAAF President Sebastian Coe, I’d like to thank the Polish Athletics Federation, its President Jerzy Skucha, the city of Bydgoszcz and its Mayor Rafal Bruski for hosting these Championships at such short notice," IAAF secretary general Jean Gracia said at the pre-event press conference.

"By hosting this year’s edition, Bydgoszcz becomes the first city to twice host the World Under-20 Championships.

"With more than 1,500 athletes entered, this is set to become the biggest ever athletics event in Poland.

"The World Under-20 Championships have historically been a stepping stone for promising athletes and have helped propel many athletes to greatness, including the likes of Usain Bolt and Valerie Adams.

"The combination of experienced hosts, an athletics-loving city, and the brightest host nation medal prospects leads me to believe that the IAAF World Under-20 Championships Bydgoszcz 2016 will be one of the best ever."

A total of 1,518 athletes have been entered to compete at the IAAF World Under-20 Championships ©Getty Images
A total of 1,518 athletes have been entered to compete at the IAAF World Under-20 Championships ©Getty Images

Finals are scheduled tomorrow in the men’s shot put, the men’s 10,000 metres and the women’s 10,000m race walk.

Defending men's shot put champion Konrad Bukowiecki of Poland has already had considerable success on the senior stage this year, finishing fourth at both the World Indoor Championships in Portland and the European Championships in Amsterdam.

The home favourite, who will also be competing in the discus throw, has one eye on the world junior record of 23m currently held by New Zealand’s Jackson Gill.

"The world record is in the back of my mind and of course I'd like to beat it but first and foremost the goal is to defend my title," said Bukowiecki. 

"The discus is mainly for fun.

"But if I can qualify for the final in both that will be great."