Tariyal wins India's first Asian Games MMA bronze after weight tie-breaker

Indian mixed martial artist Suchika Tariyal won a bronze medal in the women's traditional 60kg event at the 2026 Asian Games, securing the country's first-ever medal in the sport's debut at the continental competition. The historic achievement came after a controversial semifinal bout against Singapore's Hui Hoon Teo that ended in a draw, with Teo advancing to the final based on a weight tie-breaker.

The semifinal match on Monday in Toyota, Aichi Prefecture, was closely contested. After regulation time and an additional one-minute overtime round, the bout was initially ruled in Teo's favor. The Indian camp challenged the decision, paying a non-refundable arbitration fee. A 10-judge arbitration panel reviewed the footage and changed the result to a draw.

However, under competition rules, when fighters cannot be separated after overtime, a series of tie-breakers is applied. After considering other criteria, the final tie-breaker compared the athletes' official morning weights. Teo was approximately 700 grams lighter than Tariyal, allowing her to advance to the gold medal match. Tariyal was awarded the bronze.

MMA Sports Federation president Nikhil Kunde confirmed the decision,...