Three world champions are among the more than 60 athletes who will contest the 2019 ICF extreme canoe slalom titles this weekend in Prague.

Czech Vavrinec Hradilek and German Caroline Trompeter, inaugural world champions in 2017, will both be looking to regain their titles on Sunday, while Italy’s Christian de Dionigi will be defending the title he won in Rio last year.

Trompeter underlined her good form with victory at the ICF world cup in Markkleeberg last weekend, but will face strong competition from American Ashley Nee, the runaway leader on the 2019 standings after winning gold, silver and bronze already this season.

The consistent Dutch paddler, Martina Wegman, who won silver at last year’s world championships, and Russia’s Polina Mukhgaleeva, a bronze medalist in Rio, will also be expected to perform well.

Amalie Hilgertova, a bronze medalist in 2017, will be out to impress in front of her home crowd.

In the men’s competition, Great Britain’s Etienne Chappell deserves to start favourite this weekend off the back of his world cup wins in Lee Valley and Markkleeberg, which has given him a strong lead in the overall 2019 standings.

Hradilek will have the home course advantage, and was a winner in Bratislava this year, while Brazil’s Pedro Goncalves regularly challenges for the podium and has two silver medals this season already and Canada’s Ben Hayward won world cup gold in Tacen

The men’s competition will have more than 40 entries, while 24 women will contest the female titles.

Athletes from every continent will be represented. Nigeria, Argentina, Japan, USA, Australia and France are among the 28 countries vying for world championship glory.