Champions return, stars rise: Beach Wrestling World Series 2025 hits the Adriatic
The energy on the sand is just as high, tough. Stop 2 of the 2025 Beach Wrestling World Series lands 31st May – 1st June, and if Monterrey was the warm-up, this one is ready to blow things wide open.
With returning champions, rising stars, and some surprise entries, the beach stage is set for another unforgettable chapter. Here’s what to look out for as we head to the Adriatic coast.
Iran is back and bringing serious talent with them. Georgia arrives with a stacked squad in sharp form. Keep an eye on Muhammad Iman, too: Pakistan’s only ever Beach Wrestling World Series gold medallist, who returns to the sand in pursuit of another podium finish in the fiercely competitive 90kg category.
The men’s 90kg division is absolutely packed with talent this year. Moldova’s Traian Capatina, the 2024 overall runner-up, is back and hungry for gold. The 21-year-old wrestler will be joined by defending World Champion Ibrahim Yusubov of Azerbaijan and Ukraine’s Oleksii Yakovchuk, making this one of the most hotly contested brackets of the weekend.
When it comes to Ukraine, it's not just a case of them showing up; they're arriving in large numbers. Twenty Ukrainian athletes will compete in Poreč, including reigning men’s 70kg world champion, Oleksii Boruta, and the current women’s 60kg world champion, Anastasiya Kravchenko, who’s looking to bounce back after missing the podium in Mexico two weeks ago. Also in the mix is Sofia Kushnir, who finished 3rd in the same division. With that kind of depth, expect Ukraine to challenge across multiple weight classes.
Alongside Kravchenko and Kushnir, the women’s 60kg category sees the return of former champion Francesca Indelicato. The popular Italian made a comeback towards the end of last season, securing a fourth-placed finish. This year she will be hoping to do use her experience and world-class pedigree to regain her crown.
The sandy stage is set. The talent has arrived. The 2025 Beach Wrestling World Series is officially underway. Poreč delivered last year. Now it’s time to do it all again.
