Suchika Tariyal Makes History with Bronze at Asian Games in MMA

Historic Achievement for Indian MMA

Suchika Tariyal from Haryana clinched the bronze medal in the women's traditional 60kg category at the Asian Games, marking India's first medal in mixed martial arts at this prestigious event.

In her semifinal match, Suchika faced off against Singapore's Hui Hoon Teo. The 36-year-old athlete from Rohtak put forth a valiant effort to dominate her opponent. However, Hui Hoon took the lead in the first round with superior boxing skills. In the second round, Suchika showcased her resilience, managing to equalize the score with a remarkable comeback. With both fighters tied at the end of regulation, the match proceeded to a one-minute overtime.

During the overtime, Hui Hoon maintained control, landing several punches aimed at Suchika's left side. Although Hui Hoon was declared the winner, Suchika expressed her dissatisfaction and lodged a protest against the decision. The Indian MMA federation submitted a $1,000 protest fee, leading to a review of the match footage, which resulted in the judges declaring the bout a draw.

Unfortunately for Suchika, her moment of joy was fleeting. According to Asian MMA regulations, a tied match after overtime undergoes a series of tiebreakers. The first criterion is the number of warnings issued to each fighter. If those are equal, the judges then consider the advice given during the match. If still tied, the fighters' pre-competition weights are compared. Hui Hoon was found to be about 700 grams lighter than Suchika, which led to her being awarded the victory through a 'Break Tie by Weight'.