Beach wrestling takes place within a 7-metre-diameter circular arena. A competitor earns 1 point for making any part of their opponent’s body (other than hands or feet) touch the sand, for forcing the opponent out of bounds, or for the opponent’s passivity, while throwing an opponent onto their back earns a competitor 3 points. Each match lasts three minutes, and the first wrestler to reach three points wins.

Promoted by United World Wrestling (UWW), beach wrestling has become one of the most popular wrestling disciplines worldwide. It will feature as an official event at the 2025 Asian Youth Games in Bahrain and the 2026 Youth Olympic Games in Dakar.

The sport combines simplicity, excitement, and accessibility. Its rules are easy to grasp, its bouts are dynamic and spectator-friendly, and its outdoor beach setting enhances the visual appeal. 

Sanya has been a major host of beach wrestling competitions, including the inaugural National Beach Wrestling Challenge in 2023, which has been held at Dadonghai Beach for three consecutive years.