Photo via The Times of India

‘Too old’ to Asian Games MMA medallist: Suchika Tariyal’s journey from judo to glory

At 36, Suchika Tariyal made history as India’s first-ever Asian Games medallist in mixed martial arts, securing a hard-fought bronze in a tournament where she had long chased glory. The Delhi native, who began her combat sports journey in judo before transitioning through kurash and ju-jitsu, trained in a modest gym owned by fellow fighter Vikas Dahiya, where her husband, Kapil Hooda, became a constant presence, sharing both the emotional highs and setbacks of her career.

Tariyal’s path was far from linear—she nearly walked away multiple times after years of near-misses, including a semifinal defeat to Singapore’s Hui Hoon Teo by a 700-gram weight disadvantage, which cost her a gold medal. Her story is rooted in resilience, fueled by a childhood determination born from vulnerability: at 12, an inappropriate encounter with a barber left her seeking strength through combat sports, a pursuit that ultimately led her to this defining moment.

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