Archive · 21 Sep 2026
Indian MMA Fighter Suchika Tariyal Wins Historic Asian Games Bronze
Suchika Tariyal is an Indian athlete who competes in combat sports.
She won a bronze medal in MMA at the 2026 Asian Games.
This was important because it was India’s first Asian Games MMA medal.
MMA was also being included in the Asian Games for the first time.
Suchika won her quarterfinal match against Mongolia’s Altanchimeg Baigalmaa.
She then lost her semifinal to Singapore’s Teo Hui Hoon.
Because she reached the semifinals, she received a bronze medal.
She started learning judo at age 12 after wanting to defend herself.
She later competed successfully in judo, jiu-jitsu and MMA.
Suchika Tariyal won India’s first-ever Asian Games MMA medal in the women’s traditional MMA 60kg event.
She defeated Mongolia’s Altanchimeg Baigalmaa 2-0 in the quarterfinals before losing 3-0 to Singapore’s Teo Hui Hoon in the semifinal.
The bronze came as MMA made its Asian Games debut at Aichi-Nagoya 2026.
Born in Rohtak, Haryana, Tariyal began judo at age 12 and became an eight-time national champion.
She later won international titles in jiu-jitsu and MMA, including the 2024 JJIF Ju-Jitsu World Championships.
- Who
- Indian combat-sports athlete Suchika Tariyal, along with opponents Altanchimeg Baigalmaa of Mongolia and Teo Hui Hoon of Singapore.
- What
- Tariyal won a bronze medal in the women’s traditional MMA 60kg event.
- When
- Monday, September 21, during the 2026 Asian Games.
- Where
- The Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Games in Japan.
- Why
- Her semifinal appearance secured a bronze medal, creating India’s first-ever Asian Games MMA medal as the sport made its Games debut.
- Medal
- Bronze
- Event
- Women’s traditional MMA, 60kg
- Quarterfinal result
- Defeated Mongolia’s Altanchimeg Baigalmaa 2-0
- Semifinal result
- Lost 3-0 to Singapore’s Teo Hui Hoon
- Asian Games significance
- India’s first-ever Asian Games MMA medal
- Birth date
- August 6, 1990
- Judo record
- Eight-time national champion after competing in 20 international events
- Other major title
- Gold medalist in the Adults Ju-Jitsu Contact Female -63kg category at the 2024 JJIF Ju-Jitsu World Championships