Varun Sanyal recounts withdrawal after blacking out at Asian Games 2026 in Japan

Varun Sanyal, a 23-year-old Indian MMA fighter, said on September 22, 2026 that he was forced to withdraw from the Asian Games 2026 in Japan after blacking out during a sauna session while cutting weight. The fighter, who had been due to compete in the 77kg category, told reporters he was ruled medically unfit to fight before stepping onto the mat.

Sanyal’s path to the Games was unconventional: he had originally qualified in January but withdrew from the process to focus on his professional career and was preparing for a professional bout when he received confirmation of his place in the Indian squad just a couple of weeks before the event on September 2. That short notice reduced his preparation time, and the Indian MMA delegation in Japan consisted only of Sanyal and fellow fighter Suchika Tariyal. Both athletes travelled without dedicated support staff, and Sanyal said he also faced accommodation problems after arriving in Japan.

Sanyal said he had to manage his weight cut alone because no officials or support staff accompanied him. “I didn’t have any officials with me. I had to cut weight alone. It was on short notice. I wouldn’t recommend that anyone randomly cut weight, let alone do it by themselves,” he said.

While attempting to lose the final kilos through a sauna session at his cruise accommodation, Sanyal became severely dehydrated and passed out; an athlete from Nepal found him unconscious and alerted officials. He was taken to hospital, underwent blood tests that returned normal results, and was kept under observation.

Although doctors declared him stable the following morning, medical staff assessed him as not fit enough to compete in a combat sport and he withdrew on medical advice. The withdrawal occurred before he entered competition and removed him from the 77kg event.

“But what choice did I have? I don’t want to sit here and feel sorry for myself. We move on, and I’ve got a long career ahead of me,” he said, and he pointed to Tariyal’s bronze medal as proof that the Indian MMA contingent still delivered despite the challenges faced in Japan.