Less than a year after Ashram became Israel's first female Olympic gold medallist at Tokyo 2020, the continental championships are heading to the country from June 16 to 19.

More than 250 athletes from 39 nations are set to compete in Tel Aviv with junior and senior titles in individual and group competitions on the line.

With Ashram's retirement and the absence of Russian and Belarusian athletes, who have come to dominate the event over the decades, an opportunity has arisen for other countries to win medals.

The two countries were banned from all International Gymnastics Federation events due to the invasion of Ukraine.

Russian athletes have won 13 out of the last 14 all-around titles with Ashram winning the 2020 edition as Russia missed it due to COVID-19 concerns.

Bulgaria's Varna 2021 all-around runner-up Boryana Kaleyn and sixth-place finisher at Tokyo 2020 Milena Baldassarri of Italy are expected to challenge for the coveted gold.

World hoop bronze medallist Sofia Raffaeli, also of Italy, could challenge too as she comes into the event having taken the all-around crown at the World Cup in Pesaro earlier this month.

Other contenders include Ukraine's Viktoriia Onopriienko and Slovenia's Ekaterina Vedeneeva, who finished 11th and 12th, respectively, at the last edition.

In the group competition, a hotly contested battle between hosts Israel, reigning Olympic champions Bulgaria and Olympic bronze medallists Italy is expected.

Israel won European bronze a year ago behind Russia and Belarus in first and second, respectively.

The competition is serving as a qualifier to the World Championships later this year, set to be held in Sofia in Bulgaria.

It is the second time that Israel is due to host the event after Holon staged it in 2016.