The bizarre reason 700gm extra weight cost Suchika Tariyal spot in Asian Games final

Indian MMA fighter Suchika Tariyal secured a bronze medal at the Asian Games 2026 in the women's traditional 60kg category, but her joy was short-lived due to a bizarre reason. The 36-year-old from Haryana was visibly upset following her bout against Hui Hoon Teo of Singapore. The fight was a closely contested match with no clear winner at the end of regulation time.

The bout proceeded to overtime, where Teo's final attack was thwarted by Tariyal's takedown. Initially, the referees declared Teo the winner, causing Tariyal to refuse the handshake and visibly break down. Her coaches had to lead her away from the mat. The disappointment stemmed from the result being determined not by the bout's outcome but by the athletes' weights.

Weigh-in took place on the morning of the bout, similar to the boundary count rule used in the Men's Cricket World Cup of 2019. Since Tariyal weighed 700 grams more than her opponent, Singapore's Teo advanced to the final, and Tariyal had to settle for a bronze medal. Tariyal's coach expressed the disappointment, saying, "Suchika was inconsolable and rightfully so.

It looked like she had won the bout. The first decision was reversed after we challenged it, but nothing can be done about the weight rule where the lighter athlete gets the advantage." Despite the setback, the bronze medal marks India's first-ever MMA victory at the Asian Games. Tariyal started her combat sports journey at the age of 12 and went on to represent India in judo at the 2022 Commonwealth Games and in kurash at the 2023 Asian Games.