Chaves in Portugal is braced to host the first leg of the UWW Beach Wrestling World Series with competition to be spread across the coming two days ©UWW

Chaves in Portugal is set to host the first leg of the United World Wrestling (UWW) Beach Wrestling World Series with competition to be spread over the coming two days.

Group stage action at the Campo de Futebol de Praia de Chaves is due to be held tomorrow through to early afternoon on Saturday (March 30).

The finals will then take centre stage from mid-Saturday afternoon to the early evening.

UWW confirmed plans for a worldwide tour of beach wrestling - the fastest growing new discipline within the sport - last month.

It involves four stops around the globe with the tour next moving on to the Olympic Park in Rio de Janeiro from May 11 to 12.

UWW President Nenad Lalović has high hopes for the Beach Wrestling World Series ©UWW
UWW President Nenad Lalović has high hopes for the Beach Wrestling World Series ©UWW

Wrestlers at the first two UWW Beach Wrestling World Series events will also earn points to qualify for the inaugural Association of National Olympic Committees World Beach Games, scheduled to take place this October in San Diego.

The third stop of the World Series will be held in Odessa in Ukraine from August 9 to 10, with the finale being staged in Croatia’s capital Zagreb from September 6 to 9.

"Beach wrestling appeals to fans and wrestlers of all ages," UWW President Nenad Lalović said.

"Our young wrestlers and older lions can compete together on the beach and showcase our sport in a new and exciting way."

The UWW Beach Wrestling World Series will follow a pool format with each wrestler competing against everyone else to determine who will compete for the gold and bronze medals.