On home continent sand Vietnam look to spring a surprise

Three-time consecutive (2022, 2023, 2025) Asian champions Vietnam are making their The World Games debut at Chengdu 2025 where they will face a tough test in their preliminary group, facing three strong European teams.

First up will ANOC World Beach Games title-holders, Denmark, followed by The World Games and World Championship title-holders Germany, before newly-crowned European champions Spain.

With expectation, Spain women come to Chengdu for gold

On paper, Juan Pablo Morillo’s Spain team are one of the big favourites to take gold at Chengdu 2025.

Recently-crowned as European champions, winners of the first two stages of the 2025 IHF Beach Handball Global Tour (BHGT) and with a squad depth that could turn out two, if not three top-level national sides they are thirsty to add to their gold medal haul this year already.

Debutants Portugal ready for Chengdu challenge

A sixth-place finish at the 2024 IHF Women’s Beach Handball World Championship in China last year sealed Portugal’s place at The World Games Chengdu 2025, their debut at the global, multi-sport event.

In China, they will face Croatia, Argentina and the hosts in their preliminary group – with all three teams they face familiar to them, having played them all 12 months ago in that world championship.