India’s Suchika Tariyal created history on Monday by winning the bronze medal in women’s traditional 60kg mixed martial arts (MMA) at the continental showpiece.

Tariyal’s medal is surely beneficial for the nation as it is India’s first-ever medal in mixed martial arts at the Asian Games, with the sport making its debut at the ongoing edition.

The 36-year-old Indian athlete lost 0-2 to Singapore’s Hui Hoon Teo in the extra round of their semifinal. Despite the defeat, Tariyal had already assured herself of a bronze medal by reaching the last four.

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Suchika Tariyal Makes History In MMA

Suchika Tariyal began her Asian Games 2026 campaign strongly, defeating Mongolia’s Altanchimeg Baigalmaa 2-0 in the quarterfinal.

The victory took her into the semifinals and guaranteed India a medal in the women’s traditional 60kg MMA event. However, she could not go past Singapore’s Hui Hoon Teo in the semifinal, losing 0-2 after the contest went into an extra round.

While Tariyal missed out on a place in the final, her bronze medal will go down as a historic achievement for Indian MMA.

The Asian Games 2026 is the first edition to feature mixed martial arts, and Tariyal has now become the first Indian athlete to win a medal in the sport at the continental event.

She lost the semi-final on weight isseues. "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," MMA Sports Federation president Nikhil Kunde said.

"Since, the Singaporean was lighter than Suchika by around 700 grams, she moved to the final. Suchika settled for bronze," he concluded.

Tariyal’s Experience Comes Good

Tariyal’s journey to the Asian Games MMA podium has included experience across multiple combat sports.

The 36-year-old had previously represented India in judo at the 2022 Commonwealth Games. She later competed in kurash at the 2023 Asian Games, adding to her experience on the international stage.

That experience proved valuable as she progressed through the MMA competition in Aichi-Nagoya.

After her quarterfinal victory against Baigalmaa, Tariyal secured India’s first medal in the newly introduced discipline before bowing out in the semifinals.

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India Add Another Medal

Suchika Tariyal’s historic bronze also added to India’s growing medal tally at the Asian Games 2026.

Before her medal, India had already secured three medals through shooting, with the Indian contingent winning silver in the women’s 10m air rifle team event, another silver in the women’s individual competition and silver in the men’s 10m air rifle team event.

With inputs from PTI.