Georgia's Dato Marsagishvili was among the athletes that impressed most during the first day of qualification action at the UWW Beach Wrestling World Series event in Chaves in Portugal ©UWW/Max Rose-Fyne

Georgia's Dato Marsagishvili was among the athletes that impressed most during the first day of qualification action at the United World Wrestling (UWW) Beach Wrestling World Series event in Chaves in Portugal.

The 27-year-old is a London 2012 Olympic bronze medallist and 2011 world bronze medallist, making him the most accomplished of the mat wrestlers in attendance at the Campo de Futebol de Praia de Chaves.

He used a wrist and under-hook to toss Spain's Pedro Jacinto Garcia Perez and win 3-0 in their session-ending bout in the men's under-90 kilograms category.

Marsagishvili is due to continue his qualification campaign tomorrow with matches scheduled against home favourite Marco Paulo Nobre Do Cabo Pereira and Romania's Mihai Nicolae Palaghia.

Among the other athletes competing today was Brazil's Kamila Barbosa Vito da Silva, who lost 1-0 against Romania's Stefania Claudia Priceputu in the women's under-50kg division.

Despite her defeat, Barbosa Vito da Silva said it was a "fun first day".

"I wish I would have performed better, but I love wrestling and being in the sand," she added.

"This is going to get bigger every stop."

Today's action marked the start of the 2019 UWW Beach Wrestling World Series ©UWW
Today's action marked the start of the 2019 UWW Beach Wrestling World Series ©UWW

The Chaves event is one of four in the UWW Beach Wrestling World Series, an annual tour launched this year by UWW in support of the discipline.

Wrestling action is due to continue tomorrow morning with two more qualification rounds in each of the eight weight classes.

The medal rounds are scheduled to begin at 3pm local time.

They are more significant now than in years past as podium finishers will be awarded cash prizes based on where they finish.

Gold medallists will earn CHF1,000 (£800/$1,000/€900), while CHF500 (£400/$500/€450) and CHF250 (£200/$250/€225) will go to silver and bronze medallists respectively.

There is also an additional prize of CHF1,000 for the best move of the tournament, which will be selected by the fans, athletes and coaches at the end of the event.

In addition to money and national pride, the podium finishers will also earn points in qualifying for the 2019 Association of National Olympic Committees World Beach Games, due to be held in San Diego in October.

Competitors will be able to capture additional points at the next stop on the UWW Beach Wrestling World Series tour in Rio de Janeiro on May 10 and 11.