Tazhudinov Leads Bahrain Bid

Bahrain will be hoping to build on its growing wrestling reputation at the 2025 Senior World Championships in Zagreb, Croatia. The six-day men’s freestyle competition begins on Saturday and runs through September 16, with Bahrain fielding six competitors across multiple weight classes.

Olympic champion Akhmed Tazhudinov leads the squad in the 97kg division. At 22, Tazhudinov is regarded as one of the world’s top freestyle wrestlers. He is the top seed in a stacked field that includes Russia’s two-time Olympic champion Abdulrashid Sadulaev, the US Olympic gold medallist Kyle Snyder, and Paris 2024 silver medallist Givi Matcharashvili. Tazhudinov and Sadulaev share the same coach, Shamil Omarov, who guided both athletes to Olympic glory.

Tazhudinov has returned to form following last year’s Olympic injury, claiming gold at both the Budapest Ranking Series and the Grand Prix of Spain in Madrid this summer. His recent results mark him as a strong contender for another world title in Zagreb.

Joining him are:

Alibeg Alibegov (65kg)

Magomedrasul Asluev (74kg, seventh seed)

Khidir Saipudinov (79kg, seventh seed)

Magomed Sharipov (92kg)

Shamil Sharipov (125kg, sixth seed)

Bahrain’s team includes several seeded wrestlers, but the competition will be fierce, with Olympic and world champions across multiple categories. While Tazhudinov carries the burden of expectation in the 97kg division, his teammates will also look to convert strong preparation into podium finishes.

Bahrain has history on its side. Tazhudinov’s 2023 world title was the first ever gold for the kingdom at Senior World Championships, following Adam Batirov’s 2018 silver.