Bronze medallist Suchika says ‘weird weight rules’ robbed her of Asiad MMA gold

Suchika Tariyal, India's first-ever Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) medallist said that 'weird weight rules' robbed her of a 'deserving' gold medal in the Asian Games. Being 700 grams heavier than her semifinal opponent Hui Hoon Teo had on Monday cost Suchika a place in the 60 kg final.

This was despite her MMA bout being declared a draw after India protested the initial decision of the referee, which went in favour of the Singaporean. In the case of a draw, MMA rules state that the heavier of the two fighters will progress.

Thus Suchika’s fate was sealed based on the weigh-in on the morning of the bout. "I am very happy to get a medal. The way I was playing, it looked like I would win the gold medal. I know how I reached that stage. I worked very hard, and I couldn't lose like that.

As far as I know, I was winning both the bouts. Even in the one-minute round, I was dominating her. She was running backwards, and I was on top of her. I had told you that the federation is from Singapore, so maybe they had to make her win.

Maybe they had already made a commitment internationally and could not go back on their word," she added. Suchika claimed that the officials could have announced both the competitors as winners. "When I raised the issue with the federation, the match was declared a draw.

They said both of us were equal, but then they gave her the win. I could have been given the win as well," the 36-year-old said. "I do not know why they did that. I am not saying it was cheating. If you are declaring the match a draw, you could have given me the win too.

What was my shortcoming that you gave her the win? That is all I want to say." She continued, "You can call it bad luck. I am not saying that I was defeated because of cheating. I am very happy; I cannot express it."