Suchika Tariyal loses MMA semifinal on morning weigh-in rule after draw, takes bronze at Asian Games
Suchika Tariyal lost a controversial semifinal on a weight-rule decision and settled for a bronze medal in the women's traditional 60kg mixed martial arts event at the Asian Games in Nagoya on Monday, September 21, 2026. Singapore's Hui Hoon Teo was awarded the semifinal win after the bout was declared a draw and the result was determined by the athletes' morning weights.
The bronze was India's first-ever medal in mixed martial arts, a discipline making its debut at the 20th edition of the Asian Games. The medal raised India's overall tally to six at the continental meet, where shooters have contributed four silver medals and one bronze so far. Tariyal reacted emotionally on the mat when the final decision was announced.
The semifinal itself was closely contested and ended level after regulation time. Teo pressed the attack in the final seconds, while Tariyal managed to take her opponent down just as the buzzer sounded; Teo had the edge in the first period and Tariyal fought back in the second. With neither fighter establishing a clear advantage, the contest proceeded to a one-minute extra round.
The bout was initially ruled in Teo's favour but an Indian challenge led officials to declare the contest a draw and to revert to the morning weigh-in to determine a winner. "After the Indian challenge, the result of the bout was declared drawn. The winner was then decided on the basis of the weights of competing athletes according to morning weigh-in," MMA Sports Federation president Nikhil Kunde told PTI.
Kunde added: "Since, the Singaporean was lighter than Suchika by around 700 grams, she moved to the final. Suchika settled for bronze." Following the ruling, Teo was recorded as the winner 2-0 and advanced to the final; Tariyal broke down in tears, did not immediately go across to shake hands with her opponent or the referee, and was consoled by her coach.
Tariyal, 36, from Haryana, had secured a place on the podium by defeating Mongolia's Altanchimeg Baigalmaa 2-0 in the quarterfinals to reach the last four. She is a multi-discipline combat sports athlete who took up the sports after facing street harassment as a 12-year-old and has competed for India in judo at the 2022 Commonwealth Games and in kurash at the 2023 Asian Games.
Teo was declared the semifinal winner 2-0 and progressed to the final, while Suchika Tariyal received the bronze medal.