Suchika Tariyal secures India’s first MMA Asian Games medal with 2-0 quarterfinal win

Mixed Martial Arts made its Asian Games debut on Sunday in Aichi-Nagoya, and India’s Suchika Tariyal, 36, guaranteed a medal in the women’s traditional 60kg category by defeating Altanchimeg Baigalmaa of Mongolia 2-0 in the quarterfinal.

She advanced to the semifinals, a stage at which both losing semifinalists receive bronze medals.

A former judoka and jiu-jitsu competitor, Suchika is an eight-time National Judo Champion who won gold at the 2019 Commonwealth Judo Championships and the 2019 South Asian Games, and she competed in the women’s -57 kg category at the 2022 Commonwealth Games, narrowly missing on a podium finish.

A native of Rohtak, Haryana, from a modest and conservative family, Suchika began training in judo at age 12 after an incident of eve-teasing; she trained at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi, the Dada Dev Mandir Centre in Palam and at SAI Bhopal, and she was appointed as a head constable in CISF.

She spoke exclusively with SAI Media after her quarterfinal bout in Aichi-Nagoya; a post shared by Sports Authority of India (@media.iccsai). “This medal means a lot to me, as I and my coaches have worked very hard to reach here. My family has spent a lot of money for me and provided me with every possible support to help me become a good MMA player. So, this medal means more than my life,” Suchika said.

Commenting on the level and rules of the event, Suchika added: “The competition at the Asian Games level is very high, as mostly pro-level players compete here. The scoring also is different, as you can’t use knees and elbows. Sometimes it helps too, as it gives time to recover. If you get hit on the face, you are knocked out. The chances of injuries are a bit less, but it is a very technical sport. Amateurs and professionals both are playing, so it is a bit tough.”

Suchika was inducted in the sports ministry’s Target Asian Games Group (TAGG) scheme earlier this year and was supported for domestic pre-Asian Games training at One Punch Academy, Mumbai; a two-time Asian MMA championships medallist in 2026, she also received equipment support towards kits, training equipment, and recovery equipment. She made her MMA debut in 2017 with a victory before taking a seven-year break from the sport while continuing to compete in judo and jiu-jitsu.

Suchika will play Teo Hui Hoon of Singapore in the semifinals on Monday. Both losing semifinalists at that stage receive bronze medals.