At the 20th Asian Games, 36-year-old combat athlete Suchika Tariyal has etched her name in sporting history by becoming the first Indian to secure a medal in mixed martial arts (MMA). Competing in the women’s 60kg traditional MMA category, Tariyal advanced to the semifinals after defeating Mongolia’s Altanchimeg Baigalmaa with a 2-0 score in the quarterfinals. As both losing semifinalists are guaranteed a bronze medal, her progression ensures a podium finish for India.
Reflecting on her achievement, Tariyal expressed her pride in representing the nation. "I’m feeling so good to have won a medal for India. I hope to go all the way and fight for gold tomorrow," she said. Her success marks the fourth medal for the Indian contingent on Sunday, with the final color of her medal to be determined during Monday’s bouts.
Tariyal, who transitioned to MMA after a career as a competitive judoka and coach, attributed her success to the rigorous preparation overseen by her coaching staff, including MMA-SFI president Nikhil Kunder. She emphasized that her background in judo provided a vital foundation for her current discipline.
Regarding her strategy for the upcoming final stages, Tariyal intends to maintain the aggressive approach that brought her success in the earlier rounds. "I’m just going to stick to the plans made by my coaches. I hope to continue playing in the same manner that I have so far. My game plan remains the same — to achieve takedowns, ground-and-pound, and finish fights with submissions and locks," she explained.
Her preparation included a dedicated six-week training camp at Mumbai’s One Punch Gym and Evolution Gym. Crediting her support system for maintaining her fitness and preventing injury, she noted, "I have been into combat sports from childhood. But to reach the stage I have today has taken years. MMA is a fairly new discipline for me. But because I did judo, it has set a good base in MMA."