Day 1 Highlights: 2025 Senior World Championships in Zagreb, Croatia

The 2025 Senior World Championships have officially kicked off in Zagreb, Croatia! Day 1 showcased the intense competition in the first four weight classes of Men’s Freestyle wrestling: 61kg, 70kg, 86kg, and 125kg.

Early Morning Action

The excitement began bright and early at 4:30 a.m. ET, where qualification rounds for the aforementioned weight classes were held. With the initial session lasting until 12:00 p.m. ET, fans were treated to a full morning of grappling action. As we move into the afternoon, semifinals are set to commence at 1:00 p.m. ET.

Standout Performances

Jax Forrest (61kg)

Jax Forrest has been a standout competitor in the 61kg category. His dominant performance against South Korea’s Sangboum Han, where he tech-falled his opponent with a score of 10-0, set the stage for a promising tournament. In the Round of 16, he faced Japan’s Takara Suda and emerged victorious with a score of 7-2. Jax’s strong showing has him positioned for a potential gold medal match in the semifinals against the formidable Zavur Uguev from UWW.

PJ Duke (70kg)

While PJ Duke had a great start by tech-falling Shuang Chen from China 11-0 in the Round of 32, his quarterfinal match proved daunting. He faced Kazakhstan’s Nurkozha Kaipanov and succumbed in a tightly contested bout, losing by 11-7. Despite the setback, Duke’s early performance displayed his potential and strength on the international stage.

Zahid Valencia (86kg)

In the 86kg division, Zahid Valencia demonstrated utter dominance throughout the day. He tech-falled all opponents he faced, marking victories against Mukul Dahiya (IND) and Fateh Benferdjallah (ALG), with identical scores of 10-0, before convincingly defeating Ivars Samusonok (LAT) 10-0 in the quarterfinals. Valencia’s style and tenacity are drawing attention, setting up an exciting semifinal match against Iran’s Kamran Ghorban Ghasempour.

Wyatt Hendrickson (125kg)

Wyatt Hendrickson’s journey took an unexpected turn as he faced a challenging match against Abdulla Kurbanov. Despite previous victories over Kurbanov in their U23 encounters, Hendrickson lost with a tech fall 14-4, leaving his medal aspirations uncertain. This upset serves as a reminder of the unpredictability of world-class wrestling.

Men’s Freestyle Day 1 Results

61kg – Jax Forrest

• R32: def. Sangboum Han (KOR) – TF 10–0
• R16: def. Takara Suda (JPN) – Dec 7–2
• QF: def. Taiyrbek Zhumashbek Uulu (KGZ) – Dec 13–8
• SF: vs. Zavur Uguev (UWW)

70kg – PJ Duke

• R32: def. Shuang Chen (CHN) – TF 11–0
• R16: lost to Nurkozha Kaipanov (KAZ) – Dec 11–7

86kg – Zahid Valencia

• R32: def. Mukul Dahiya (IND) – TF 10–0
• R16: def. Fateh Benferdjallah (ALG) – TF 10–0
• QF: def. Ivars Samusonok (LAT) – TF 10–0
• SF: vs. Kamran Ghorban Ghasempour (IRI)

125kg – Wyatt Hendrickson

• R32: lost to Abdulla Kurbanov (UWW) – TF 14–4

Semifinal Matchups

As the competition moves into the semifinals, here’s a look at the matchups to watch:

61kg Semifinals

• Zavur Uguev (UWW) vs. Jaxen Patrick Forrest (USA)
• Kum Hyok Kim (PRK) vs. Ahmad Masoud Mohammadnezhadjavan (IRI)

70kg Semifinals

• Yoshinosuke Aoyagi (JPN) vs. Arman Andreasyan (ARM)
• Nurkozha Kaipanov (KAZ) vs. Tulga Tumur Ochir (MGL)

86kg Semifinals

• Kamran Ghorban Ghasempour (IRI) vs. Zahid Valencia (USA)
• Rakhim Magamadov (FRA) vs. Hayato Ishiguro (JPN)

125kg Semifinals

• Giorgi Meshvildishvili (AZE) vs. Robert Baran (POL)
• Shamil Magomed A Sharipov (BRN) vs. Amir Hossein Abbas Zare (IRI)

Where to Watch

Fans can follow all the action, results, and updated brackets, and even watch live on FloWrestling. The platform also offers archived footage post-event for enthusiasts wanting to relive the thrilling moments.

As Day 1 of the 2025 Senior World Championships unfolds in Zagreb, the intensity of competition is on full display. From standout performances to surprising upsets, it’s shaping up to be an unforgettable event for wrestling fans worldwide. Stay tuned for further updates, highlights, and match results!