Arya News - Suchika Tariyal created history at Asian Games 2026 by winning India’s first MMA medal, securing bronze in the women’s traditional -60kg event in Nagoya.
NEW DELHI – Suchika Tariyal created history for India at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games 2026, becoming the country’s first Asian Games medallist in mixed martial arts after securing bronze in the women’s traditional -60kg category on Monday.
Tariyal’s historic campaign ended in the semifinals after she suffered a narrow defeat to Singapore’s Hui Hoon Teo in an overtime bout. The Indian went down by the smallest of margins, missing out on a place in the gold-medal contest but securing a place on the podium.
The defeat was a disappointing end to Tariyal’s run, with the 36-year-old visibly upset after the result. However, her bronze marks a significant milestone for Indian MMA, which is making its Asian Games debut at Aichi-Nagoya 2026.
Tariyal had booked her place in the semifinals after a composed 2-0 quarterfinal victory over Mongolia’s Altanchimeg Baigalmaa on Sunday. The win also made her the first Indian athlete to secure an Asian Games medal in MMA.
Suchika Tariyal’s multi-discipline combat sports journey
Tariyal’s historic MMA medal adds another achievement to a career spanning several combat sports.
A national-level judoka, she represented India at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, where she reached the bronze-medal bout. She subsequently competed in kurash at the 2023 Asian Games before establishing herself in Jiu-Jitsu.
In 2024, Tariyal won a world title in fighting Jiu-Jitsu, further strengthening her credentials across combat disciplines.
Her MMA journey began with a professional debut in 2017, when she won her first bout. She subsequently spent seven years away from MMA while focusing on judo and Jiu-Jitsu before returning to the sport.
In November 2024, Tariyal signed a multi-fight deal with BRAVE Combat Federation, marking another step in her return to professional MMA.
Her career comeback also came after setbacks, including a knee injury. She later gained wider public recognition through an appearance on the television reality show Roadies.
MMA makes Asian Games debut in Aichi-Nagoya
MMA is among the six sports making their Asian Games debut in 2026. The other debut sports are freestyle BMX, teqball, padel, surfing and virtual taekwondo.
With Tariyal securing bronze, India has immediately made its presence felt in MMA’s first appearance at the continental multi-sport event.
While the semifinal defeat denied her a shot at gold, Tariyal’s bronze will go down as a landmark achievement as India’s first Asian Games medal in mixed martial arts.