The first wrestling ranking series of 2025 will commence in Zagreb, Croatia on February 5 at the Zagreb Arena. The tournament will also herald the start of the new season and a fresh Olympic cycle for wrestlers, with crucial ranking series points up for grabs. Watch the Zagreb Open ranking series live online. (More Sports News)
To be contested from February 5 to 9, the event will feature Paris Olympics medallists like Kennedy Blades, Spencer Lee and Aaron Brooks. They will face stiff challenge from several contenders, who will be looking to kickstart the season in right earnest.
The Indian contingent was also looking to make its mark at the Zagreb Open, with all eyes on Paris Olympics bronze medallist Aman Sehrawat, who had won the title the previous time in the 57kg category. But India will reportedly have no representation owing to a lack of clearance from the sports ministry.
Sehrawat and other Indian freestyle as well as Greco-Roman wrestlers will bear the brunt of this development, according to a Times of India report. The sports ministry's refusal to grant affiliation to the elected Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) body, despite recognition from United World Wrestling, is the reason for the lapse, the report states.
Zagreb Open Wrestling Ranking Series Schedule
Wednesday, February 5: Men's freestyle - 57-61-65-70-74-86kg
Thursday, February 6: Men's freestyle - 79-92-97-125kg and women's freestyle - 50-55kg
Thursday, February 7: Women's freestyle - 59-62-65-68kg and Greco-Roman - 63-67kg
Friday, February 8: Women's freestyle - 53-57-72-76kg and Greco-Roman - 77-87kg
Saturday, February 9: Greco-Roman - 55-60-72-82-97-130kg
All rounds will take place at the same time every day of the competition:
2:30pm IST: Qualification Rounds
4:30pm IST: Semi-finals
5:30pm IST: Repechage
10pm IST: Medal Rounds
Zagreb Open Wrestling Ranking Series: Live Streaming Details
The Zagreb Open wrestling ranking series will be streamed live on UWW+, on the uww.org website and the UWW app.
