Archive · 21 Sep 2026
Varun Sanyal Ruled Out After Asian Games Weight-Cut Collapse
Varun Sanyal Aryamaan is an Indian mixed martial arts fighter.
He was supposed to compete in the men’s traditional 77-kilogram event at the Asian Games.
Before competing, he used a sauna to help lose enough weight.
He became very tired and dehydrated and passed out.
A Nepalese athlete found him and helped him get medical attention.
Sanyal was taken to a hospital and later returned to the athletes’ cruise ship.
Doctors said his tests were normal and that he was stable.
However, he still did not feel well enough for a combat sport, so he withdrew from the Games.
Indian MMA fighter Varun Sanyal Aryamaan passed out in a sauna while trying to make the men’s traditional 77kg limit.
A Nepalese athlete found Sanyal, woke him and helped him contact MMA officials, who arranged hospital treatment.
Sanyal returned to the athletes’ cruise ship at about 3:00am and was reported stable and out of danger.
Medical examinations and precautionary blood tests were normal, but he experienced dehydration, cramps, body aches and weakness.
After consulting his coach, Sanyal withdrew on medical grounds before his scheduled quarterfinal debut.
- Who
- Indian MMA fighter Varun Sanyal Aryamaan, with assistance from a Nepalese athlete, MMA officials and medical personnel.
- What
- Sanyal lost consciousness during a sauna-based weight cut and was ruled medically unfit to compete.
- When
- On Sunday; he returned to the cruise ship at about 3:00am after hospital treatment.
- Where
- In a sauna at the athletes’ cruise accommodation in Nagoya, followed by treatment at a hospital.
- Why
- He was attempting to meet the required weight for the men’s traditional 77kg MMA quarterfinal.
- Athlete
- Varun Sanyal Aryamaan
- Age
- 27
- Sport
- Mixed martial arts
- Event
- Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games 2026
- Scheduled competition
- Men’s traditional 77kg quarterfinal
- Medical findings
- Generalised cramps, body ache, exhaustion and dehydration; precautionary blood tests were normal
- Outcome
- Withdrew on medical grounds before competing
Sources
Indian MMA fighter Varun Sanyal’s Asian Games ends before debut after passing out from exhaustion, dehydration
Who Is Varun Sanyal Aryamaan? Indian MMA Fighter Suffers Health Scare, Ruled Out Of Asian Games 2026
Asian Games 2026: Varun Sanyal withdraws after dehydration during MMA weight cut
