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700 Grams Cost Suchika Tariyal Asian Games Final Spot
Suchika Tariyal competed in a martial arts match at the Asian Games 2026.
She fought Hui Hoon Teo from Singapore in the women’s traditional 60kg category.
The match was very close and ended in a draw.
India challenged the first result, but three new judges also called it a draw.
The rules required officials to use the fighters’ morning weights to decide who advanced.
Teo weighed about 700 grams less than Tariyal.
Because Teo was lighter, she went to the final and Tariyal received the bronze medal.
Tariyal was very upset after the decision.
She did not return Teo’s handshake and was helped away by a coach.
Suchika Tariyal won India’s first MMA medal at the Asian Games, taking bronze in the women’s traditional 60kg event.
Her semifinal against Singapore’s Hui Hoon Teo ended in a draw after regulation and an additional one-minute round.
After India’s challenge, three new judges also scored the bout as a draw.
Officials then applied the morning weigh-in rule, under which lighter athletes win tied bouts; Teo weighed about 58.5kg and Tariyal about 59.2kg.
Teo advanced to the final, while Tariyal became visibly upset, declined her opponent’s handshake and was led away by a coach.
- Who
- Indian fighter Suchika Tariyal and Singapore’s Hui Hoon Teo; the result was reviewed by officials and judges after an Indian challenge.
- What
- A drawn MMA semifinal was decided by the fighters’ morning weights, sending Teo to the final and leaving Tariyal with bronze.
- Where
- The Asian Games 2026 competition venue; the specific location is not stated.
- When
- At the Asian Games 2026, on Monday according to the report; the relevant weigh-in took place that morning.
- Why
- The bout remained drawn after a review, and the reported rule awarded victory to the lighter athlete.
Tariyal’s Perspective
Competition Rule
How the winner was determined
Tariyal’s Perspective
Tariyal’s camp challenged the initial decision and believed her late takedown and overall performance were enough to win; she was distressed when the bout remained drawn.
Competition Rule
After three new judges also scored the bout as a draw, officials applied the reported morning-weigh-in rule, giving the win to the lighter athlete.
Meaning of the weight difference
Tariyal’s Perspective
Tariyal lost a place in the final because she was about 700 grams heavier, despite the contest having no clear winner.
Competition Rule
Teo’s lower morning weight—about 58.5kg compared with Tariyal’s 59.2kg—met the stated tiebreaking condition and sent her to the final.
Key facts
- Athlete
- Suchika Tariyal, a 36-year-old Indian fighter from Haryana
- Opponent
- Hui Hoon Teo of Singapore
- Event
- Women’s traditional 60kg MMA
- Result
- Teo advanced to the final; Tariyal won bronze
- Morning weights
- Tariyal was reported at about 59.2kg and Teo at about 58.5kg
- Weight difference
- Teo was approximately 700 grams lighter
- Challenge
- India reportedly paid a $1,000 arbitration fee; three new judges then scored the bout as a draw
- Historical significance
- The bronze was reported as India’s first MMA medal at the Asian Games
Quotes
Nikhil Kunder
President of the MMA Sports Federation
“Three new judges came and scored the bout again. When those three new judges came, the bout was scored a draw. Now, the Singapore team had an option to either counter-arbitrate, where three more judges come and score the bout, or they go for the weight that was taken in the morning during weigh-ins. Whichever athlete weighs lighter will win,”
livemint.com
“After the Indian challenge, the result of the bout was declared drawn. The winner was then decided on the basis of the weights of competing athletes according to morning weigh-in,”
livemint.com
Sources
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