– by Pratyusha Mukherjee, Aichi-Nagoya, Japan
India’s Suchika Tariyal assured herself of a medal as Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) made its debut at the Asian Games on Sunday, defeating Mongolia’s Altanchimeg Baigalmaa 2-0 in the women’s traditional 60kg quarterfinal.
The 36-year-old Indian, who has previously competed in judo and jiu-jitsu, advanced to the semifinals, where both losing semifinalists are assured of bronze medals. Suchika will face Singapore’s Teo Hui Hoon in the semifinal on Monday.
“This medal means a lot to me as me 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 told SAI after her quarterfinal bout.
MMA is among the six sports making their debut at the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, and Suchika has made a memorable start to India’s campaign in the sport.
Reflecting on the challenge at the continental multi-sport event, Suchika said the competition was significantly different from the amateur circuit, with several professional-level fighters taking part.
“The competition at the Asian Games level is very high as mostly pro-level players compete here. The scoring is also 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,” she said.
Suchika, a two-time Asian MMA Championships medallist in 2026, was inducted into the Sports Ministry’s Target Asian Games Group (TAGG) scheme earlier this year. She was also supported for domestic pre-Asian Games training at One Punch Academy, Mumbai, besides receiving equipment support for kits, training and recovery.
A native of Rohtak, Haryana, Suchika’s sporting journey began at the age of 12 after an incident of eve-teasing prompted her to take up judo as a means of self-defence. She began training at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi before moving to the Dada Dev Mandir Centre in Palam and later honing her skills at SAI Bhopal.
An eight-time National Judo Champion, Suchika has won several international medals for India, including gold at the 2019 Commonwealth Judo Championships and the 2019 South Asian Games. She also competed in the women’s -57kg category at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, narrowly missing out on a podium finish.
Suchika made her MMA debut with a victory in 2017 but subsequently took a seven-year break from the sport while continuing to compete successfully in judo and jiu-jitsu. She later returned to MMA and has since emerged as a prominent name in the Asian martial arts circuit.
Alongside her sporting career, Suchika serves as a Head Constable in the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF).
With a medal already assured, Suchika will now look to take the next step when she faces Teo Hui Hoon in Monday’s semifinal.
