Suchika Tariyal secures India’s first medal at Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games

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Taking up Judo at age 12 to learn self-defence following an eve-teasing incident, Suchika Tariyal’s decision to pursue Judo has culminated in an Asian Games podium finish. Over a decade later, her efforts have guaranteed India’s first medal at the Asian Games.

The Indian athlete defeated Mongolia’s Altanchimeg Baigalmaa to secure a spot in the semifinals of the women’s traditional 60kg MMA (mixed martial arts) event. The victory guarantees her a medal, adding another significant accomplishment to her incredible combat-sports career.

Baigalmaa launched an aggressive attack in the second and final round to turn the tide, but Suchika’s defensive setup withstood the pressure. Capitalising on her opponent’s continuous attacks, Suchika executed a reversal, brought Baigalmaa down to the mat, and controlled the fight through the final siren to secure the win.

This podium finish marks the newest milestone in an athletic path that moved from Judo to Ju-Jitsu and ultimately into professional MMA.

Suchika Tariyal’s career graph

Hailing from Rohtak, Haryana, Suchika started her early training at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium before continuing at Palam’s Dada Dev Mandir Centre and later at SAI Bhopal. She established a distinguished record in Judo, becoming an eight-time National Judo Champion and representing India across more than 20 international events.

Her Judo resume features gold medals at the 2019 South Asian Games and the 2019 Commonwealth Judo Championships, as well as a silver at the 2018 Commonwealth Judo Championships. She also competed at several Asian Judo Championships and contested the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham in the women’s -57 kg class.

Expanding her skill set, Suchika transitioned to Ju-Jitsu and reached top international status in 2024 by claiming gold in the Adults Ju-Jitsu Contact Female -63 kg category at the JJIF Ju-Jitsu World Championships.

Her entry into MMA followed a similar trajectory. After winning her MMA debut in 2017, she took a seven-year break from the cage while remaining active in Judo and Ju-Jitsu. She resumed her MMA career in December 2024 at BRAVE CF 92 in Bahrain under a multi-fight deal with BRAVE Combat Federation. Beyond sports, Suchika serves as a Head Constable in the CISF and works as a Junior Coach with the Department of Sports, Haryana.

(With inputs from ANI)

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