Two days after Bastille Day, 17 national heroes and six reigning world champions will take to the sand during the kick-off of the 2021 Beach Wrestling World Series in Saint Laurent du Var, France, on July 16 and 17.

While it’s the red carpets at the Festival de Cannes this time of year which is all the rage, the Beach Wrestling World Series will feature the best in their fields during the upcoming days on the French Côte d’Azur. All four world champions in the men’s as well as two defending champions in the women’s will fight alongside a 17 wrestlers strong French team and an athletes roster with 15 different nationalities.

When the group phase begins on Friday at 10 am CEST, it will be the first fights on the sand at Landsberg Beach after a forced 22-months hiatus. With many of the athletes taking it to be beach on an elite level for the first time in almost two years, the excitement in the Beach Wrestling community is of the highest anticipation leading up to the first of four World Series stops this season.

In the women’s, the defending champion in the 60kg category, Camila Fama Tristao from Brazil, and the +70kg winner, Greece’s Aikaterini Eirini Pitsiava, will prioirtize a strong performance right from the start.

Also not to ignore is Italy’s Francesca Indelicato, the 2018 World Championship runner-up, who will potentially match up against the reigning champion in the women’s 60kg class, Fama Tristao.When these two wrestlers meet it is guaranteed fireworks.

All four male title holders in United World Wrestling’s fastest growing discipline have registered for the season opener in Saint Laurent du Var, a brand-new location in the South of France. The three Georgians Levan Kelekhsashvili (70kg), Davit Khutsishvili (80kg) and Dato Marsagishvili (90kg) as well as heavy-weight champion Oyan Nazariani from Azerbaijan will face off their skills in the rings.

A 2012 Olympic bronze medalist, Marsagishvili’s gold-match contender from the finals in Zagreb 2019, Muhammad Inam from Pakistan and World Champion 2018, will attempt to turn the tables on the Georgian and leave the circle a winner in France.

Across all four weight classes in the men’s as well as the women’s, high-flying action, frequent throws and an abundance of athleticisms will be on display throughout Beach Wrestling’s first event on French soil this weekend. With the arena built on the popular Landsberg Beach the applause from spectators on the grandstands will push the athletes to elevate their performance.

To watch the action of the Beach Wrestling World Series, in wrestling’s hottest style, make sure you click here for the live stream of all fights.

Schedule Stop 1, Saint Laurent du Var, FRA
Friday, July 16
10.00-13.00      Group Phase
15.00-18.00      Group Phase

Saturday, July 17
10.00-13.00      Group Phase
15.00-18.00      Elimination Rounds + Finals