Daijiworld Media Network - Hangzhou
Hangzhou, Sep 21: India’s Suchika Tariyal settled for a bronze medal in the women’s traditional 60kg mixed martial arts event at the Asian Games here on Monday after Singapore’s Hui Hoon Teo was awarded the semifinal victory on account of her lower weight following a drawn bout.
The medal marked India’s first-ever medal in mixed martial arts at the Asian Games, with the discipline making its debut at the 20th edition of the continental showpiece.
Tariyal was visibly devastated by the decision and broke down in tears on the mat after Teo was declared the winner. The Indian did not immediately go across to shake hands with her opponent or the referee, while her coach consoled her.
The closely fought semifinal ended in a draw after regulation time. Teo launched an attack in the closing seconds, but Tariyal managed to take her opponent down just as the buzzer sounded.
Teo had the upper hand in the first period, but Tariyal fought back strongly in the second. With neither fighter able to establish a decisive advantage, the bout went into a one-minute extra round.
Both fighters believed they had done enough to win and celebrated when the final buzzer sounded. The bout was initially awarded to Teo, but following an Indian challenge, the result was declared a draw and the winner was determined based on the fighters’ morning weigh-in.
“After the Indian challenge, the result of the bout was declared drawn. The winner was then decided on the basis of the weights of competing athletes according to morning weigh-in,” MMA Sports Federation president Nikhil Kunde told PTI.
“Since the Singaporean was lighter than Suchika by around 700 grams, she moved to the final. Suchika settled for bronze,” he said.
Teo was subsequently declared the winner 2-0 and advanced to the final, leaving Tariyal visibly upset.
The bronze medal took India’s overall medal tally at the Asian Games to six. Indian shooters have so far won four silver medals and one bronze.
The 36-year-old Haryana athlete took up combat sports after facing street harassment at the age of 12. She later became a multi-discipline combat sport athlete, representing India in judo at the 2022 Commonwealth Games and in kurash at the 2023 Asian Games.
Tariyal had assured herself of a medal on Sunday by defeating Mongolia’s Altanchimeg Baigalmaa 2-0 in the quarterfinals to enter the semifinals.