Russia's Sofia Prosvirnova was the quickest qualifier in the women's 1,500 metres event ©Getty Images

Russia's Sofia Prosvirnova was the quickest qualifier in the women's 1,500 metres event on the opening day of the European Short Track Championships in Dresden.

Prosvirnova, winner of the 1,000m event at the 2017 Championships in Torino, clocked 2min 32.518sec to win the seventh heat in the distance at the Sportpark Ostragehege.

Italian Arianna Fontana, the six-time overall European champion, also safely qualified for the next round at 1,500m.

The 27-year-old crossed the line in 2:34.565 to take victory in the third heat.

Bianca Walter and Anna Seidel ensured there will be a German presence in the semi-finals as they both did enough to get through their respective heats.

Prosvirnova, Fontana, Seidel and Walter were also among those to book semi-final places over the 1,000m distance.

Arianna Fontana of Italy was among the other qualifiers on day one ©Getty Images
Arianna Fontana of Italy was among the other qualifiers on day one ©Getty Images

A number of the big names qualified in the men's 500m as Dutchman Sjinkie Knegt and the Russian pairing of Semion Elistratov and Victor An eased into the semi-finals.

Knegt, aiming to regain the overall continental crown he clinched in 2015, won his heat in a time of 41.173sec.

Elistratov, who is chasing a fourth consecutive overall title, crossed the line in 41.880 to prevail in heat nine, while team-mate An, a six-time Olympic gold medallist, clocked 41.875.

The Championships in the German city continue tomorrow, where gold medals will be awarded in the men's and women's 500m and 1,500m events.