Controversial Decision Grants Suchika Taryal Bronze Medal at Asian Games

Rohtak, September 21 (Daily Kiran) : Indian mixed martial arts fighter Suchika Taryal clinched a bronze medal in the women's traditional 60 kg category at the 2026 Asian Games, following a disputed decision during her semi-final match. Her mother-in-law believes that Suchika deserved an even better result. Originally from Uttarakhand, Suchika was raised in Delhi and later married in Haryana.She credits her success to the unwavering support of both her families. Reflecting on her daughter-in-law's achievement, Suchika's mother-in-law stated, “Suchika has consistently performed well and remained competitive. In 2022, she finished fourth and felt she deserved a better outcome. Now she has secured third place, though she believes she should have taken second. I am unsure how the weight category was evaluated, but her determination to win a medal for the country has always been strong.She has a great demeanor with the family.” Suchika’s in-laws expressed their confidence in her abilities. “We were sure she would win. She trained hard, even before her marriage. Her younger sister also played sports but didn’t achieve the same success. We knew Suchika was a remarkable athlete, so we didn’t assign her any household responsibilities. We allowed her to focus on her sport. She visits home every week or so and has a wonderful personality,” they said. Despite her achievement, Suchika is dissatisfied with the medal.She showed dominance in her semi-final bout against Singapore's Hoon Toon but was disappointed with the decision that ruled in favor of her opponent. Following the verdict, she lodged a protest for arbitration. During this process, judges reviewed the match and declared it a draw. According to the rules of the Asian Mixed Martial Arts Association (AMMA), in the event of a draw, the lighter fighter is declared the winner. Suchika expressed her frustration over the controversial decision and the subsequent loss of her medal, alleging corruption in the process.