Suchika Tariyal Bronze Medal:  For every sportsperson, there is always a turning point that shapes their journey. For Suchika Tariyal, who won a Bronze Medal at the 2026 Asian Games, it was at the age of 12 when she was inappropriately touched and harassed by a barber at a salon. What became a necessity to protect herself eventually became a journey through judo, ju-jutsu, and mixed martial arts. Today, the world knows her as India's first MMA medallist at the Asian Games.

However, the journey of a sportsperson is never a smooth one. After being a judo player for years and bringing national and international laurels, including Ju-Jutsu World Champion in 2024, Tariyal once thought of hanging up her boots following a knee injury and a tough patch in her personal life.  

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"I Had Given Up"

At age 36, when most people think of relaxing, Suchika Tariyal scripted a historic bounce-back on the world platform by winning India's first-ever Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) medal. She defeated Mongolia's Altanchimeg Baigalmaa 2-0 in the quarterfinals of the women's traditional 60kg category, which is MMA's very first appearance at the Asian Games. 

What made this medal even more momentous is the tumultuous road that led her here. After representing India at the 2022 Commonwealth Games and later at the 2023 Asian Games in Kurash, a traditional form of jacket wrestling, she essentially decided to part ways with sports altogether.

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How Did She Come Back?

Tariyal credits her comeback to two people from India's mixed martial arts community. One is UFC fighter Pooja Tomar and former ONE Championship fighter Himanshu Kaushik. After suffering a debilitating knee injury, persistent systemic hurdles, and profound personal struggles, Tariyal had almost given up.

However, recognising her potential, Pooja and Kaushik persistently pushed her to step out of retirement and try mixed martial arts. "Then Pooja and Himanshu forced me to try it once, saying that my skills were good and I would pick it up quickly. These two are the ones who brought me into MMA," she said.

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Her Path To 2026 Asian Medal Was Not Straightforward

Suchika Tariyal's way to the 2026 Asian Games was full of ups and downs. She was a Ju-Jutsu World Champion in 2024 and has been preparing along the way, but in January 2026, the Ju-Jutsu team for the Asian Games was scrapped, and the selection process was changed. This decision eliminated the route Tariyal had been preparing for. 

But instead of giving up, she made another switch and entered the MMA trials. The qualification process itself produced an obstacle. The eligibility rules were changed midway, with athletes now required to break into the top six in the Asian rankings. With no government funding available immediately for her trip, she financed her own journey to the Asian Championships.

The gamble paid off eventually. She won a historic bronze medal in the women's traditional 60kg Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) category at the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan.

Suchika Tariyal thanked her parents, family and husband Kapil Hooda for helping her continue her sporting journey, crediting their belief for strengthening her determination. Furthermore, she urged all athletes to continue playing as long as they want without thinking about age limitations. 

"If you are passionate about any sport or game, never stop. Keep moving forward because I am 36 years old today, and I still feel that I can continue playing and achieve more," she said.

Meanwhile, Suchika's coach Nikhil Kunder said that her MMA bronze medal will inspire a new generation of fighters, popularising the sport nationwide. He further expressed greater hope from the government so that the country will have more medals as MMA continues to grow.

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