Indian athlete loses to S'porean athlete in MMA semi-final, refuses to concede defeat: Asian Games

Singaporean Tiffany Teo, 36, is on the cusp of winning an Asian Games gold medal in the women's mixed martial arts (MMA) traditional 60kg category.

She beat Suchika Tariyal from India on Sep. 21 at the Nagoya City Inae Sports Center in Japan to make history.

Teo beat Arezou Salimighalehtaki from Iran 3-0 in the quarter-finals.

She will meet Khilola Sobirova from Uzbekistan on Sep. 22.

Teo is guaranteed at least a silver medal by reaching the finals.

It is Singapore's first medal in the sport at the Games.

Both losing semi-finalists are awarded bronze medals.

Controversial end

However, the match ended in controversy.

The Indian fighter refused to accept the loss at the end of the semi-final bout.

This was after regulation time ended in a draw.

The 1-minute overtime was then awarded 2–1 to Teo.

India protested and arbitration later ruled the bout a tie.

But under tournament rules, a draw is awarded in favour of the lighter athlete.

Teo weighed 700g lighter than Suchika, India media explained.

Indian Semi-Finalist Suchika refuses to accept loss in MMA at Asian Games 2026 against Singaporean Player

Suchika lost a dramatic semifinal to Singapore’s Tiffany Teo after regulation time ended in a draw.

The 1-minute overtime was initially awarded 2–1 to Teo. India protested,… pic.twitter.com/nOU2HkrGBd

— Mogambo (@Netajinonsense1) September 22, 2026

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