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Suchika Tariyal Secures India’s First Asian Games MMA Medal
Suchika Tariyal won her MMA quarterfinal match at the Asian Games.
She beat Mongolia’s Altanchimeg Baigalmaa by a score of 2-0.
Winning this match put Suchika into the semifinals.
Athletes who reach the semifinals are guaranteed at least a bronze medal.
This means India has won its first-ever Asian Games MMA medal.
MMA is being played at the Asian Games for the first time in 2026.
Suchika has competed in several other fighting sports, including judo, kurash and jiu-jitsu.
She will fight next for a place in the final.
Her opponent will come from a match involving athletes from Iran and Singapore.
Suchika Tariyal defeated Mongolia’s Altanchimeg Baigalmaa 2-0 in the women’s traditional 60kg quarterfinal.
The victory guaranteed Tariyal and India at least a bronze medal in Asian Games MMA.
MMA is making its Asian Games debut at the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Games.
Tariyal will compete in the semifinals on Monday against either Iran’s Arezou Salimighalehtaki or Singapore’s Hui Hoon Teo.
The 36-year-old has previously represented India in judo and kurash and won a jiu-jitsu world championship in 2024.
- Who
- India’s Suchika Tariyal defeated Mongolia’s Altanchimeg Baigalmaa.
- What
- Tariyal reached the semifinals and assured India of its first Asian Games MMA medal.
- Where
- The bout was held at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games in Japan.
- When
- The quarterfinal took place on Sunday; the semifinal is scheduled for Monday.
- Why
- A semifinal place guarantees at least a bronze medal in the event.
Key facts
- Event
- Women’s traditional mixed martial arts 60kg category
- Quarterfinal result
- Suchika Tariyal won 2-0 over Altanchimeg Baigalmaa
- Medal significance
- India’s first-ever Asian Games MMA medal
- Minimum medal
- Bronze
- Athlete’s age
- 36
- Next opponent
- Arezou Salimighalehtaki of Iran or Hui Hoon Teo of Singapore
- Other sports at the 2026 debut
- Freestyle BMX, teqball, padel, surfing and virtual taekwondo
Quotes
Suchika Tariyal
Indian MMA athlete and Asian Games semifinalist
“I really want to inspire young women to take up MMA. I will be very happy even if one girl looks at me and says ‘if Suchika can, I can too’”
livemint.com
Sources
Asian Games 2026: Suchika Tariyal assures India a historic MMA medal after the 36-year-old reaches semifinal
Asian Games 2026: Suchika Tariyal Hooda Scripts History, Assures India First-Ever MMA Medal With 2-0 Win
Suchika Tariyal Confirms First Medal for India at Asian Games
Suchika Tariyal Into MMA Semis! India Assured Of Historic Asian Games Medal
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