Georgia’s wrestlers impressively initiated their title defence during the first stop of the 2021 Beach Wrestling World Series at Saint Laurent du Var’s Landsberg Beach while in the women’s two athletes managed to win all of their three matches in style.

The heat was on when the 71 wrestlers from as far as Azerbaijan, Brazil and Tunisia met for the first fights on the sand in almost two years. With 17 wrestlers from the hosting French federation the support from the spectators on the stands pushed the local heroes to seven match wins. Read here what the first day of the 2021 season opener had in store.

The women’s 50kg was dominated by Stefania Claudia PRICEPUTU. The Romanian won all three of her fights to bring herself in a great position for the remaining matches moving towards the business end of the tournament.

In the 70kg category Ukraine’s Alina BEREZHNA STADNIK MAKHYNIA had an equally successful start by defeating her three opponents.

60kg champion Camila FAMA TRISTAO from Brazil produced dramatic images as she defeated her Romanian opponent Denisa Iuliana FODOR with a cut on her forehead sustained during the fierce fight.

Turkey’s Mehlika OZTURK won both her fights in this weight class, including her ring rendezvous with Francesca INDELICATO. A fan favourite, the Italian was the World Champion runner-up from 2018.

Over to the men’s, the Georgians picked up where they left off in 2019 – with wins in all weight categories during the first two sessions of the group phase.

The 70kg, 80kg and 90kg World Champions Levan KELEKHSASHVILI, Davit KHUTSISHVILI and Dato MARSAGISHVILI have two wins each under their belts and will go undefeated into Saturday’s final day of competition.

The wrestling action in Saint Laurent du Var, a brand-new location on the Beach Wrestling World Series calendar, will continue on July 17 at 10am with more group matches in the morning session. The medal rounds will start at 3pm CEST.

Don’t miss out on the action on the beach and watch the live stream on the website.