Suchika Tariyal wins India's first MMA medal at Asian Games

Suchika Tariyal has secured India’s first-ever medal in Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) at the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, winning a bronze medal in the women’s traditional 60kg category.

Tariyal’s achievement was marked by controversy during her semifinal bout against Singapore’s Hui Hoon Teo. After the match was declared a draw following a review by new judges, technical rules dictated that the lighter competitor would advance. Because Tariyal weighed approximately 700 grams more than Teo during the morning weigh-in, Teo was awarded the win, leaving Tariyal to settle for bronze. Tariyal expressed disappointment, stating, “I thought I won the fight. I am not able to agree with the result.”

In addition to the historic MMA result, India’s medal tally at the Games has been bolstered by strong performances in shooting. The men’s 10m air rifle team, consisting of Himanshu Dhillon, Rudrankksh Patil, and Parth Mane, secured a silver medal. Individual shooting results include a silver for Dhillon and a bronze for Patil. India’s overall tally currently stands at six medals, including four silvers and two bronzes.