Suchika Taryal, an athlete from Kiloai village in Rohtak district, Haryana state, won the bronze medal in women's traditional MMA in the 60 kg weight category at the Asian Games, bringing India its first such distinction in mixed martial arts (MMA).
In the semi-finals, she faced Hun Thao from Singapore. The match was extremely tense, and the score between both athletes was even. However, the decision favored the lighter-weight athlete, which prevented Suchika from reaching the final. Nevertheless, for her, this bronze award was no less significant than gold.
After receiving the medal, Suchika told PTI journalists: 'This is more than my life. I will never forget coming to Japan and winning a medal for my country. Now I can die happy.'
Suchika Taryal expressed doubts regarding the decision made after the semi-finals of the 2026 Asian Games in the women's traditional MMA 60 kg category. After losing to Hun Thao from Singapore, she stated that she gave her all to change the color of the medal, but the decision was not in her favor.
According to Suchika, she demonstrated a consistently better level of play in the fight and executed takedowns. She noted: 'I tried very hard to change the color of the medal, but due to certain circumstances, I could not do it. Perhaps I fell slightly short, or the decision was not in my favor. I do not agree with this decision.'
She also mentioned that many spectators agreed that her performance was superior. Addressing the topic of weight rules, Suchika stated that she knows the rules, including the rule for losing by exceeding weight, but believes the entire fight should not be judged solely on weight.
Emphasizing her superiority, Suchika declared: 'If you watch the fight, I was winning. I made takedowns. She didn't make me a single takedown. She just punched in the air.'
She accused the match decision of being based on weight rather than performance level. Suchika said: 'It shouldn't have come down to weight, but they turned it into a weight issue. She was declared the winner only because she weighed less, even though I won both rounds.'
Previously, Suchika represented India at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in judo, where she reached the semi-finals but failed to win a medal. She then participated in the Asian Games in Kurash, but did not receive a medal there either. MMA provided her with another chance, which she did not miss.
Suchika explained her motivation: 'I wanted to win a medal for my country so people would know me. I am also a world champion in jiu-jitsu. I participated in the Asian Games in Kurash but did not get a medal. Then I got a second chance to prove myself here. I worked very hard on this.'
Suchika's story is linked not only to sporting achievements but also to the struggle for a dream amid financial difficulties. Her father retired from government service, and her mother is a homemaker. In the early stages of her career, financial problems were so severe that she had to take unpaid leave from her department to train. At that time, her husband provided her with financial support, which helped her reach this level. Suchika expressed a desire to dedicate this medal to her parents and husband.
Her inspiration was boxer Mari Kom, a six-time world champion and Olympic medalist. Suchika first saw her during a national judo camp in Bhopal. She recounted: 'I have loved Mari Kom Didi since childhood. Maybe she was at the national judo camp in Bhopal in 2009-2010. She looked very magnificent in her attire and demeanor. She is my ideal. I have never spoken to her personally. If I have the chance, I would like to talk to her.'
The athlete, whom she observed from afar and made her role model, has now become a source of inspiration for those who believe that age is not the final deadline for realizing a dream in sports. The most interesting aspect of this medal is that Suchika viewed the Asian Games as the culmination of her MMA career.
