Spain’s men and women have both won gold at the second stage of the 2025 IHF Beach Handball Global Tour (BHGT) in Laredo, Spain.

The host nation women defeated Poland in the final while the men’s side saw off neighbours Portugal in the gold medal match on the second and final day of action in the northern Spanish town.

Perfect Spain women continue BHGT 2025 100% record with second stage win in a row

After winning stage one of this year’s tour in Tunisia last month Spain’s women did it again, beating Poland 2-0 (30:16, 19:18) in the final of Stage 2.

A clear first set gave way to a close second, with the host nation needing a golden goal – from Jimena Laguna – to make it 19:18 and take gold once again. Maria Asuncion Batista Portero scored 18 points for the home side. It was the second international gold this month after the side won the European Championship title earlier in July in Turkiye. The two sides had met earlier in Laredo, Spain winning via shoot-out 9:8 in the preliminary round on the first day of action (Tuesday 29 July). 

Wednesday (30 July) saw the preliminary round conclude with Portero scoring 28 points for the hosts in their 2-0 (26:9, 24:3) win over the USA in a one-sided affair. Earlier in the day, Poland sealed their gold medal match place with a 2-1 (18:16, 16:17, SO 7:6) win over Portugal. 

The shoot-out went to a second round after Oliwia Gierszewska and Karolina Glasa both missed for Poland in the first round along with Portugal’s Margarida Oliveira shooting wide and then Daniel Mendes missing a single point winner after it was saved by Kaja Gryczewska.

The second round of shots saw Carolina Paulo shoot over the oncoming Poland goalkeeper but the ball bounced back off of the line and Kinga Bogacka secured the victory with a single point.

This concluded the preliminary group stage which ended with Spain on top thanks to three wins from three (6 points) followed by Poland (4), Portugal (2) and the USA (0). Paulo bounced back in the bronze medal match against the USA scoring 12 points in a dominant 2-0 (24:8, 24:10) win.

Spain’s men ensure clean sweep of golds for home side in Laredo

After losing to Portugal 10:6 via shoot-out in their preliminary group game on day one, Spain bounced back in the final, defeating their neighbours comfortably 2-0 (24:22, 27:22) to win gold and book a place in the 2025 IHF Beach Handball Global Tour – Finals stage in Brazil later this year.

Spain had confirmed their place in the final with a 2-0 (22:6, 28:26) morning final preliminary group game win over Poland, with four of the home side players scoring in double figures. The USA had impressed in their final preliminary group game with a 2-1 (14:12, 16:30, SO 9:8) win over Portugal, Bryan Cook the key player, the veteran American saving Vasco Nogueira’s shot to set up Drew Bradley with a wrist-flick single-pointer for the win. Zuwed Akuro tallied 14 points for the USA.

The results meant the group stage finished with Portugal top (four points from two wins and a +1 set difference and, crucially, that head-to-head win over Spain, who also finished with four points). Poland finished third with two points, ahead of the USA in fourth, also on two points, but with a better set record (Poland -2, USA -3).

Poland and the USA clashed again in the evening session for bronze, the Europeans hoping to replicate their 2-0 preliminary group win over their North American rivals on day one, but it would not be the case as, again, Cook and Bradley were the heroes for the USA.

After Poland took the first set 30:29, the USA bounced back to grab the second, 24:22, setting up the shoot-out. Overall top-scorer for the USA in the medal match, Jason Borchik (19 points), saw his first shot saved, and the Polish team found themselves 4:0 ahead and one eye on the podium. But Cook had other ideas in goal, saving from both Tymon Laszewski and Rafal Renicki, leaving Bradley to score the single point winner again for the 7:6 victory.

Next up for the 2025 IHF Beach Handball Global Tour is Stage 3 – Finals, to be held in João Pessoa, Brazil in November. Already qualified from Stage 1 were Croatia (men) and Spain (women) as winners, with Spain’s men now joining them, alongside the host nation men’s and women’s teams from the South American hosts.

All BHGT S2 games were streamed live and free on the IHF Competitions YouTube channel and can be watched again HERE.

RESULTS

Men’s competition

Preliminary Round
Poland vs United States of America 2-0 (22:18, 23:20)
Spain vs Portugal 1-2 (28:18, 20:25, SO 6:10)
Portugal vs Poland 2-0 (25:24, 32:25)
United States of America vs Spain 0-2 (22:26, 22:23)
Portugal vs United States of America 1-2 (12:14, 30:16, SO 8:9)
Spain vs Poland 2-0 (22:6, 28:26)

Bronze medal match: Poland vs United States of America 1-2 (30:29, 22:24, SO 6:7)
Final: Portugal vs Spain 0-2 (22:24, 22:27)

Women’s competition – Preliminary Round
United States of America vs Portugal 0-2 (6:22, 10:24)
Poland vs Spain 1-2 (14:16, 20:18, SO 8:9)
Poland vs United States of America 2-0 (22:6, 28:12)
Spain vs Portugal 2-1 (10:13, 23:20, SO 9:6)
Poland vs Portugal 2-1 (18:16, 16:17, SO 7:6)
Spain vs United States of America 2-0 (26:9, 24:3)

Bronze medal match: Portugal vs USA 2-0 (24:8, 24:10)
Final: Spain vs Poland 2-0 (30:16, 19:18)

About the IHF Beach Handball Global Tour

The IHF Beach Handball Global Tour was launched at the 2022 IHF Men’s and Women’s Beach Handball World Championships in Greece and debuted in Gdansk, Poland, with Croatia winning the men’s tournament and Spain taking the top spot in the women’s tournament.

The following year, in 2023, the IHF Beach Handball Global Tour visited Brazil, Tunisia and Poland before the Finals Stage was held in Qatar with Qatar’s men and Brazil’s women taking the overall titles.

The 2024 IHF Beach Handball Global Tour was held in Brazil, Spain and finals, again in Qatar, where Brazil won both the men’s and women’s events.

2025 represents the fourth edition of the IHF Beach Handball Global Tour, with Stage 1 taking place in Hammamet, Tunisia, won by Spain’s women and Croatia’ men’s teams in June. Stage 2 was played in Laredo, Spain in July, with Stage 3 – Finals taking place in João Pessoa, Brazil in November.

In a senior IHF Beach Handball World Championship or The World Games year, the IHF Beach Handball Global Tour Team consists of three stages, with non-event years reverting back to four stages. This year, The World Games will take place in August, in the People’s Republic of China.

Photo credit: RFEBM