Weight-Cut Heartbreak Hits India Again at Asian Games MMA Event

India had a tough but exciting day at the Asian Games on Sunday, September 20, in Nagoya, Japan. Fighter Varun Sanyal had to pull out of his men's MMA quarter-final before it even started because he became ill during a weight-cutting session. Meanwhile, his teammate Suchika Tariyal won her quarter-final bout and guaranteed India at least a bronze medal in mixed martial arts.

Weight-cutting is when fighters try to lose a little weight before a weigh-in to compete in a lower weight group. Sanyal was sitting in a sauna — an extremely hot room used to sweat off weight — when he began feeling dizzy and got painful cramps. Doctors checked him out and his tests came back normal, but he still did not feel strong enough to compete in a demanding combat sport.

This was not the first time India felt this kind of heartbreak. At the 2024 Paris Olympics, wrestler Vinesh Phogat was disqualified from her gold-medal match because she was just 100 grams too heavy. She even cut her hair and changed her outfit to try to lose those extra grams, but it was still not enough — and now Sanyal's withdrawal brought those painful memories flooding back.

On the bright side, Suchika Tariyal delivered a strong performance in the women's 60kg quarter-final, dominating her opponent from Mongolia. Her victory guaranteed India a medal — at least bronze — in MMA, a sport that is appearing at the Asian Games for the very first time. The win was celebrated by her coach and teammates, who were thrilled to end the day on a high note.

Tariyal's sports career is truly remarkable because she has competed at a high level in several different sports. She won a world championship in jiu-jitsu in 2024, competed in judo at the Commonwealth Games, and also took part in a sport called kurash at the previous Asian Games. At 36 years old, she is now adding MMA to her impressive list of achievements.

Her coach Nikhil Kunder said Tariyal inspires everyone around her. 'She's 36 years old and she is doing this. She is an inspiration,' he said, adding that she pushes him and all his young fighters to train harder. It is rare to see an athlete competing at such a high level across so many different combat sports at her age.

Tariyal also serves in India's central armed police forces, which makes her schedule incredibly busy. She had to take unpaid leave — meaning she stopped getting paid — so she could focus on training and competing. Her husband stepped in and borrowed money to cover the costs of her travel and training, supporting her every step of the way.

Tariyal said that many married women in India face pressure to give up their sports careers, but her husband never put that pressure on her. 'I have come this far because of my husband's support,' she said with gratitude. The color of her medal will be determined by how she performs in Monday's semi-final and a possible final the day after.