Suchika Tariyal Secures India's First Medal at Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games

Suchika Tariyal has made history by securing India's first medal at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games. With a decisive 2-0 victory over Mongolia's Altanchimeg Baigalmaa, she advances to the semifinals in the women's Traditional Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) 60kg event. This achievement marks a significant milestone in her diverse combat sports career, which includes accolades in judo and jiu-jitsu. As MMA debuts at the Asian Games, Tariyal's journey showcases her resilience and determination, having overcome injuries and challenges to reach this stage. Read on to discover more about her inspiring story and upcoming semifinal match.

By Narendra Chaudhary Sep 20, 2026, 11:46 IST

Suchika Tariyal Advances to Semifinals in MMA

On Sunday, Suchika Tariyal guaranteed India its inaugural medal at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games by defeating Mongolia's Altanchimeg Baigalmaa with a score of 2-0, advancing to the semifinals of the women's Traditional Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) 60kg category in Nagoya, Japan.

The 36-year-old athlete has built a diverse career in combat sports, including judo, kurash, jiu-jitsu, and now MMA. She is set to compete in the semifinals on Monday, where reaching this stage ensures a medal, as both losing semifinalists will receive bronze. Notably, MMA is making its debut at the Asian Games this year.

Tariyal's journey is remarkable, having previously represented India in judo at the 2022 Commonwealth Games and in kurash at the 2023 Asian Games. Additionally, she was crowned the Jiu-Jitsu world champion in 2024.

After taking a break from sports, she returned to competition, motivated by friends, and chose MMA as her new challenge. Despite facing a knee injury and other obstacles, she made her Asian Games debut in this discipline.

In her match against Baigalmaa, who holds the 92nd rank in the Eurasia region, Tariyal dominated the fight, securing a 2-0 victory and a spot in the semifinals.