Archive · 20 Sep 2026
Weight-Cut Illness Ends Varun Sanyal’s 2026 Asian Games Campaign
Varun Sanyal was supposed to compete in MMA at the 2026 Asian Games.
He needed to make the 77kg weight limit for his quarterfinal.
To lose weight, he ate and drank less and used a sauna.
Reports said he passed out in the sauna and had dizziness, cramps and dehydration.
A doctor decided he was not healthy enough to compete.
He also did not make the required weight.
This ended his Games campaign before he fought.
Another Indian fighter, Suchika Tariyal, reached the semifinals and guaranteed India a medal.
Varun Sanyal was declared medically unfit and failed to make weight for the men’s traditional 77kg quarterfinal.
Reports said he passed out in a sauna and experienced dizziness, lightheadedness, muscle cramps and dehydration.
The medical document linked his symptoms to restricting food and fluids before using the sauna.
Sanyal’s campaign ended before he entered the arena at Nagoya City Inae Sports Center.
Fellow Indian MMA fighter Suchika Tariyal reached the women’s 60kg semifinals and secured India an MMA medal.
- Who
- Indian MMA fighter Varun Sanyal, aged 27.
- What
- He was ruled medically unfit and failed to make weight for the men’s traditional 77kg quarterfinal.
- When
- Sunday, September 20, during the 2026 Asian Games.
- Where
- The scheduled bout was at the Nagoya City Inae Sports Center in Nagoya, Japan.
- Why
- He became unwell during a weight cut involving food and fluid restriction and sauna use, and was not cleared by a doctor.
- Athlete
- Varun Sanyal
- Sport
- Mixed martial arts
- Weight category
- Men’s traditional 77kg
- Reported incident
- He reportedly lost consciousness in a sauna while cutting weight
- Medical findings
- Dizziness, lightheadedness, muscle cramps and dehydration
- Competition outcome
- Sanyal did not compete in a bout
- Indian MMA result
- Suchika Tariyal reached the women’s traditional 60kg semifinals and secured a medal for India
- Additional difficulties
- Reports said Sanyal faced travel and accommodation problems in Nagoya before the event
