Suchika Tariyal didn't lose; India appealed, but 700g cost her Asian Games final

Suchika Tariyal etched a historic moment for India by clinching her first Asian Games medal in mixed martial arts at the Aichi Nagoya 2026 Games, despite narrowly missing out on the gold medal. The 36-year-old faced Singapore's Hui Hoon Teo in the women's Traditional 60kg semi-final, where the bout was tied after regulation and extended to a one-minute additional round.

Teo was initially declared the winner, leading Suchika to challenge the decision. The Indian team paid a $1,000 arbitration fee, and a 10-judge panel ultimately decided the fight was a draw. However, under competition rules, the lighter fighter advances in the event of a stalemate. Teo, weighing around 700 grams less than Suchika, secured her spot in the gold medal bout, leaving Suchika with the bronze.

While disappointed, Suchika still made history, as MMA made its debut in the Asian Games and she became India's first medallist in the sport.