{
  "id": 8636843,
  "title": "Asian Games: MMA's Varun Sanyal medically unfit after dizziness during weight cut",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/20/asian-games-mmas-varun-sanyal-medically-unfit-after-dizziness-during",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-20T07:04:17.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Times of India",
    "slug": "times-of-india",
    "url": "https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/asian-games-2026/asian-games-mmas-varun-sanyal-declared-medically-unfit-in-attempt-at-weight-cut-after-getting-dizzy-in-sauna/articleshow/134364790.cms"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Varun Sanyal, a 77kg MMA fighter from India, has been declared medically unfit to compete in the Asian Games due to dizziness experienced during a sauna session for weight cutting. The athlete, who weighed 77kg, passed out at the sauna facility after feeling dizzy and experiencing muscle cramps. According to a medical report, Varun suffered dizziness, lightheadedness, and muscle cramps 30 minutes after taking a sauna. Varun was aided by a fellow athlete and the MMA India president, Nikhil Kunder, before being taken to a doctor and subsequently declared unfit for the competition.\n\nThis is a significant setback for India, as Varun was one of the two Indian MMA fighters in the Asian Games squad. The other fighter, Suchika Tariyal, won her quarter-final bout and secured a medal for India, advancing to the semi-finals in the women’s 60kg event.\n\nVarun Sanyal, a bronze medallist at the Asian championships in China in January 2026, entered the Asian Games with high hopes of securing another medal. A graduate in business management honors from Queen's Mary University of London, Varun's interest in combat sports was sparked by WWE, TNA, and Indian wrestlers Sushil Kumar and Yogeshwar Dutt's success in the 2012 London Olympics. He credits his supportive family, especially his father Sanjeev Sanyal, for instilling a strong work ethic and passion for martial arts.\n\nDespite the disappointment, Varun sees the Asian Games as an opportunity for MMA to gain more prominence in India. His journey to the Asian Games has been marked by rigorous training and adapting to the sport's demanding nature.",
  "summary": "Indian MMA fighter Varun Sanyal has withdrawn from the Asian Games due to a medical issue. He experienced dizziness and muscle cramps during a weight cut sauna session, according to the Times of India and Free Press Journal. As a result, Sanyal was declared medically unfit for the competition.\n\nIn other news, India has won its first medal at the Asian Games, a silver in the women's 10m air rifle team event, as reported by The Indian Express. Elavenil Valarivan, Sonam Maskar, and Vidarsa Vinod combined for a total of 1898 points to secure the medal.\n\nThe Asian Games, which are being held in Aichi-Nagoya, have introduced MMA as a new sport, but it has gotten off to a challenging start for Indian athletes, with Sanyal's withdrawal. Additionally, the Games have no traditional athletes' village, as noted by the Japan Times.",
  "key_points": [
    "Varun Sanyal, Indian MMA fighter, medically unfit for Asian Games.",
    "Dizziness and muscle cramps during sauna session 30 minutes ago.",
    "Declared unfit, India's second MMA fighter advances to semi-finals."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Times of India",
        "title": "At 12, she was eve-teased: Suchika is now India’s first Asian Games MMA medallist",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/20/at-12-she-was-eve-teased-suchika-is-now-indias-first-asian-games-mma",
        "published": "2026-09-20T05:11:31.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}