The seventh edition of The World Games to feature beach handball gets underway on the shores of Xinglong Lake in south-eastern Chengdu, China on Thursday (7 August).

Two courts will feature a morning and early afternoon session totalling eight games – four in the men’s competition and four in the women’s competition.

To watch the games live or follow beach handball at The World Games, click HERE.

World, The World Games and European champions do battle in opening day of women’s competition

Many players and coaches consider The World Games to be one of the toughest beach handball competitions to win due to the high-quality of talent on show on the sand and the opening day of the women’s competition ably illustrates that.

“That's a really tough question,” said Germany’s Lena Klingler to ihf.info when asked who she thinks will be the toughest teams in Chengdu. “The level here at this tournament is probably the highest it has ever been because of the new qualification pathway – you can't compare it to the last The World Games as it’s totally different. 

“But Spain, Argentina; these two are really top teams but then also Denmark and Portugal; you can't cut them out. We had a tough shoot-out loss against Denmark in at the EURO.”

Newly-crowned European champions Spain will face Klingler’s The World Games (2022) and World Championship (2024) title-holders Germany in an all-European clash which should highlight just what the sport of beach handball can offer in the second set of women’s games throwing off at 1140am.

Spain – who are one of the few teams in China to be able to select a full-strength squad – were the last delegation to arrive in Chengdu and spent all day on Wednesday acclimatising to the travel, time difference and humidity.

And with medals galore in recent weeks, they are looking to add another one by this time next week.

“We're approaching this competition with great enthusiasm and desire because it's one of the season's major goals and one of the biggest challenges ahead,” said Spain coach Juan Pablo Morillo to rfebm.com. 

“The great results we're getting reinforce our style of play and the approach we want for the matches. Our goal is to focus first and foremost on ourselves, on reaching that level of play, that level of competitiveness, so we can confidently face matches that, in principle, are very difficult in the group.”

But the long journey and adaptation to conditions for Spain has been the same for most of the teams coming to Chengdu, Germany spending 25 hours getting to the Asian nation.

“It's certainly stressful, but it affects all the teams there,” said Germany women’s coach Alexander Novakovic to handball.net, who revealed that his side “…are forced to adapt our system a bit," as they are in Chengdu without a recognised specialist in the squad. They played Argentina in a friendly match on Wednesday as they completed their final preparations.

Spain against Germany is one of a quartet of games on offer, along with ANOC World Beach Games title-holders Denmark – complete with five debutants – taking on three-times-in-a-row, and current Asian champions, Vietnam, who are appearing in the event for the first time.

“It is always exciting to go to such a big tournament with many debutants,” said Denmark coach Morten Frandsen Holmen. “But I have great faith that they – together with the experienced players – will do well in China.”

The first set of games at 1000am sees relatively unknown quantity China open their home event against Croatia, while 2017 silver medallists and 2022 bronze medallists, plus 2024 world championship silver medallists, Argentina look to take a first winning step on the full-The World Games medal collection when they take on debutants Portugal.

“We begin a new challenge in a competition we're participating in for the first time,” said coach Agustin Collado Rodriguez to fpa.pt. “We are eager and excited to experience a unique experience. We will begin the competition against Argentina, the 2024 world championship runner-up, where our main objective is to start well. Then, we will face a constantly improving Chinese team as hosts and, finally, Croatia, who will help us define our quarter-final matchup.”

“Any team can win the tournament,” added Argentina’s experienced Luciana Scordamaglia to ihf.info, “…but we have confidence.”

Can Croatia keep their seat at the top table?

Like Germany’s women, Croatia are current The World Games and IHF World Championship title-holders and like the Germans, they also open their Chengdu 2025 campaign against the recently-crowned European Champions – this time Germany, who are re-appearing in the competition of their last appearance at home at Duisburg 2005.

“At World and European Championships, the processes aren't as gigantic as here, with long distances, lots of hustle and bustle in the village, and many other sports,” said German head coach Marten Franke to handball.net about what makes The World Games so different to the continental and global handball-only events.

Franke welcomes back Lennart Wormann to his squad, after the key player missed their European championship title win last month.

“Croatia will obviously be a tough opponent to begin with,” added Franke about his opening opponents who have brought in a number of new, young players. “We'll be watching to see what lineup they field, but everything will be demanded of you right from the start.”

The same with the only ever-present team in beach handball at The World Games – Brazil’s men. They open their account with a match against Portugal, while China take on Tunisia and Denmark face Spain to wrap up day one.

“I hope it is Brazil, because when I start a competition, I always think every time about the gold medal,” said Brazilian magician Bruno Oliveira to ihf.info. “Croatia is the most difficult team as they four world championship title, but, really, I don't know, because I don't see the teams yet. Croatia, Germany, Denmark all have new players, so to say who is the hardest I don’t know. I am just focusing on Brazil.”

Brazil’s opening clash will be a fascinating one against 2024 world championship bronze medallists Portugal.

“The World Games represent the pinnacle of the competition, the culmination of a rigorous qualifying campaign that has brought us here,” said Pedro Serrano, coach for Portugal’s men’s team to fpa.pt.

“Expectations are high, but we're determined to leave our mark and be remembered for the best reasons. Our goal is clear: we want a medal, and we'll fight with all our might to achieve it. We're prepared to give our all and make this moment unforgettable.”

To watch the games live or follow beach handball at The World Games, click HERE. https://www.ihf.info/media-center/news/world-games-chengdu-2025-how-follow 

The World Games Chengdu 2025 – Beach Handball: Day 1 schedule
(All times local, CST)

Thursday 7 August 

Preliminary Group

Women’s Competition
1000    CHN vs CRO, ARG vs POR
1140    GER vs ESP, DEN vs VIE

Men’s Competition
1050    CRO vs GER, POR vs BRA
1230    CHN vs TUN, DEN vs ESP