Suchika Tariyal secures India’s first Asian Games medal with MMA semifinal berth

Suchika Tariyal beat Mongolia’s Altanchimeg Baigalmaa 2-0 in Nagoya on September 20, 2026, to reach the semifinals of the women’s Traditional Mixed Martial Arts 60kg event at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games. Her progression into the last four assured India of its first medal at the Games, with both losing semifinalists awarded bronze.

The 36-year-old combat sports veteran has built a career across multiple disciplines, competing in judo, kurash and jiu-jitsu before turning to mixed martial arts. MMA is making its Asian Games debut at Aichi-Nagoya 2026, and Tariyal will contest the semifinals on Monday, September 21. Her appearance in Nagoya represents her first Asian Games campaign in MMA.

Tariyal’s sporting résumé includes representing India in judo at the 2022 Commonwealth Games and in kurash at the 2023 Asian Games. She was crowned Jiu-Jitsu world champion in 2024. Those achievements preceded her switch to mixed martial arts.

After stepping away from sport, Tariyal returned to competition after being encouraged by friends and chose MMA as her new challenge. She has battled through a knee injury and several hurdles to make her Asian Games debut in the sport. Her route to Nagoya encompassed recovery and adaptation to a new competitive code.

Against Baigalmaa, who is ranked 92nd in the Eurasia region, Tariyal controlled the contest to secure her place in the last four. The win moved her into the semifinal stage of the women’s Traditional MMA 60kg bracket. That progression guarantees at least a bronze medal under the event’s format.

Tariyal is scheduled to fight in the semifinals on Monday, September 21, where a victory would advance her to the gold-medal match and a defeat would still leave her with bronze.