Former Sun Devil Zahid Valencia Wins Gold at Senior World Wrestling Championships
Zahid Valencia scored a perfect 49-0 across five matches to become a world champion
ZAGREB, Croatia – Former Sun Devil Wrestling standout Zahid Valencia has etched his name into the history books by taking gold at the Senior World Wrestling Championships in Zagreb, Croatia on Sunday afternoon.
The 28-year-old scored a perfect 49-0 across five total matches against international opponents en route to a gold medal. The dominant run was capped off by securing a 12-0 tech fall victory over Hayato Ishiguro (JPN) in the finals, his fourth tech fall victory of the championships.
FULL RESULTS:
R32: Defeated Mukul Dahiya (IND) – TF 10-0
R16: Defeated Fateh Benferdjallah (ALG) – TF 10-0
QF: Defeated Ivars Samusonok (LAT) – TF 10-0
SF: Defeated Kamran Ghorban Ghasempour (IRI) – 7-0
Final: Defeated Hayato Ishiguro (JPN) – TF 12-0 (4:20)
Valencia’s path to gold also included dethroning former world champion Kamran Ghasempour (IRI) in the semifinals. The bout against Ghasempour was the only match to go the distance, where Valencia used an offensive barrage to pile up a 7-0 statement win on the way to an eventual championship.
During his tenure at ASU, Valencia was a two-time NCAA Division I national champion (2018-19), a three-time All-American, a three-time Pac-12 champion, and a three-time Pac-12 Wrestler of the Year. Valencia’s back-to-back Pac-12 Wrestler of the Year honors marked the first time since fellow Sun Devil Eric Larkin (2001–2003) achieved the feat.
Valencia now becomes just the second Sun Devil alumni in program history to win gold at the Senior World Championships, joining current head coach Zeke Jones in the exclusive club.