Wrestling World’s Elite Assemble as 2025 Senior Championships Begin in Zagreb

The 2025 World Wrestling Championships have officially begun in **Zagreb, Croatia**, running from **September 13 through 21** at Arena Zagreb, marking the city’s first time hosting the event.

Organized under the auspices of United World Wrestling, the tournament draws nearly 900 senior wrestlers from around 100 countries, competing across three styles: men’s freestyle, women’s freestyle, and Greco-Roman. The scale underscores the event’s importance in the global wrestling calendar, coming on the heels of Olympic and continental qualifiers and with many athletes seeking both prestige and ranking points.

### Opening and Organization The opening ceremony was held on **September 13**, officially inaugurated by Croatia’s Prime Minister Andrej Plenković. Arena Zagreb has been transformed into a high-intensity arena for the nine-day competition, supported financially by the Croatian government and various stakeholders. The budget includes substantial public and sports-tourism backing, with estimated costs around **€8 million**, of which about **€4 million** is public funding.

### Competition Highlights & Early Results The action kicked off with men’s freestyle qualification rounds starting immediately. Noteworthy matches include the men’s freestyle 86 kg, where **Zahid Valencia (USA)** claimed gold with a dominant performance over Hayato Ishiguro (Japan), shutting him out decisively. In the 70 kg category, **Yoshinosuke Aoyagi (Japan)** defeated Tömör-Ochiryn Tulga (Mongolia) for the top podium spot. In 79 kg, **Georgios Kougioumtsidis (Greece)** clinched gold, edging out Levi David Haines (USA).

### Stakes & Looking Forward With so many elite competitors in attendance, many eyes are on established Olympic medallists and rising stars alike. Several weight classes are unexpectedly wide open, offering opportunities for upsets and breakthroughs. For many participants, Zagreb is more than just about medals — it is a critical juncture for rankings, qualification, and momentum heading into 2026 and the next Olympic cycle.

### Broadcast and Global Access Fans worldwide can follow the action via UWW’s official channels, including UWW+ and live highlights, with multiple updates, full brackets, and medal summaries being published daily.

As the first medals are decided and wrestlers settle into their brackets, Zagreb is set to deliver intense competition, dramatic stories, and potentially memorable breakthroughs in the sport’s landscape. With eight more days of wrestling ahead, global wrestling fans are in for a showdown not to be missed.