HEARTBREAK struck the Indian contingent at the Asian Games this week as high-stakes MMA prospect Varun Sanyal was forced to withdraw from the competition. Sanyal, slated to represent India in the 77kg category, was declared medically unfit following a grueling weight-cutting procedure that took a severe toll on his body, marking a disappointing end to what was expected to be a career-defining tournament.
The incident occurred during the final stages of his preparation, as Sanyal attempted to reach his required weight class. According to reports from the venue, Sanyal experienced sudden, alarming symptoms while utilizing a sauna, a common but physically taxing method for athletes to shed excess water weight. Following thirty minutes of heat exposure, the athlete suffered from acute dizziness, lightheadedness, and debilitating muscle cramps before losing consciousness.
He was immediately attended to by fellow athlete and MMA India president, Nikhil Kunder. After being stabilized and evaluated by medical professionals, it was determined that the physical strain of the weight cut, compounded by food and fluid restrictions, had left him in a state that made competing in a high-intensity combat sport unsafe.
IOA Issues Official Statement
The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) confirmed the withdrawal shortly after the medical assessment. In a formal statement regarding the incident, the governing body detailed the timeline of the fighter’s health struggles: “Varun Sanyal suffered from generalized cramps and body ache while in the sauna last evening in his cruise accommodation. He underwent a medical examination and precautionary blood tests, which were normal. Despite rest, the following morning, he felt not fully fit to participate in a combat sport. After consultation with his coach, he withdrew on medical grounds.”
The withdrawal comes after a tumultuous lead-up for the MMA squad. Sanyal had already dealt with logistical hurdles, including complications regarding his rooming arrangements upon arriving in Japan. While the setback is devastating for Sanyal, the Indian MMA camp has found a glimmer of hope in the performances of Suchika Tariyal, who is competing in the women’s 60kg division. Tariyal successfully secured a victory in her quarter-final bout, guaranteeing India at least one medal in the sport’s historic debut at the Asian Games.
A Multi-Faceted Athlete
Varun Sanyal’s absence is a significant loss, given his trajectory in the sport over the past eighteen months. A graduate of Queen Mary University of London with a first-class degree in business management, Sanyal’s athletic journey is as impressive as his academic record. He first emerged on the radar as a serious medal contender after clinching a bronze medal at the Asian Championships in China back in January 2026.
His path to the mat has been unconventional. While he was heavily influenced by the spectacle of WWE and TNA wrestling in his youth, his competitive fire was truly stoked by the success of Indian icons like Sushil Kumar and Yogeshwar Dutt at the 2012 London Olympics.
“Seeing our Olympians succeed really drew me towards martial arts and eventually towards MMA,” Sanyal shared in a recent interview with SAI Media. “MMA is, in many ways, the most primal form of sport and competition. It’s also a life skill. Learning how to defend yourself, stay calm under pressure, and make decisions when you’re under physical threat are incredibly important skills.”
Sanyal hails from a prominent family; he is the son of noted economist and member of the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister, Sanjeev Sanyal, and Smita Barooah. His lineage is steeped in history, tracing back to his great-granduncle, the famed revolutionary Sachindranath Sanyal, a key figure in the Hindustan Republican Association.
Having grown up in Singapore, Varun was exposed to a diverse array of sports, including cricket, football, squash, and powerlifting, before eventually pivoting to the disciplined rigors of Jiu-Jitsu and Muay Thai. Despite his father’s initial hesitation toward the brutal nature of MMA, he eventually became one of Varun’s greatest supporters, often engaging in deep discussions about the sport’s technical nuances.
The “Bumpy” Road to the Games
The road to the Asian Games was anything but linear for the 77kg fighter. Reflecting on the chaos of the qualification process, Sanyal noted that the lack of institutional clarity forced him to balance his professional career with his aspirations as an elite fighter.
“I won the MMA SFI Nationals in 2025, which qualified me for the Asian AMMA Championships… that meant I was officially ranked within the Asian system,” Sanyal explained. “At the time, though, it wasn’t particularly clear who had qualified for the Asian Games. Rather than sitting around waiting, I decided to focus on my professional career.”
The final confirmation of his spot arrived just two weeks before the start of the Games. While the short notice presented a massive mental and physical challenge, Sanyal maintained a philosophical outlook on the realities of the professional circuit. Unfortunately, that commitment to the sport ultimately reached its limit this week.
While Sanyal will not have the opportunity to fight for gold in Japan, his presence in the squad served as a testament to the growing legitimacy of MMA in India. For now, the focus of the Indian delegation turns to the semi-finals, hoping that the success of the remaining squad members can mitigate the sting of this medical disqualification.
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