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Indian MMA fighter Varun Sanyal, on of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Economic Advisory Council member, has questioned why was he left alone at his weight cut.
Varun Sanyal has been disqualified from Asian Games (Picture credit: Instagram @varunsanyal)
India’s mixed martial arts fighter Varun Sanyal has questioned why he was left to manage his weight cut alone at the Asian Games after a sauna session left him exhausted, dehydrated, and medically unfit to compete.
Sanyal was forced to withdraw from the MMA competition on Sunday after passing out during the sauna session while attempting to make the 77kg weight limit. He was ruled out without competing in an event.
The fighter, who was included in India’s Asian Games squad on September 2, said his decision to cut weight without assistance was ‘foolish’ in hindsight, but suggested he had little choice in the circumstances.
“I came here on two weeks’ notice, I found out relatively late. I obviously had a bunch of accommodation issues, and then I was all by myself on a weight cut. In retrospect, that was quite foolish of me to do,” Sanyal told PTI. I had no choice but to do it by myself. That’s a question, to be honest, I would like the public to ask, why was I alone?”
Sanyal, the son of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Economic Advisory Council member Sanjeev Sanyal, said he was disappointed at missing the competition but did not want to dwell on the incident.
“I had wanted to participate and show off my skills. I have big aspirations for myself in this sport, and I have backed myself to do well. But yeah, I have to move on,” he said.
His comments also highlighted the wider support challenges faced by India’s MMA contingent. The team travelled to the Asian Games without any support staff. Suchika Tariyal, who won bronze in the women’s traditional 60kg event, was India’s other MMA representative.
Sanyal said he had qualified for the Asian Games in January but shifted his focus to his professional career amid uncertainty over the selection process. He was ranked fourth in Asia when he was called up with only two weeks to prepare.
“I was getting ready for a professional fight in the cage. And then, on two weeks’ notice, I found out that my name was announced (for Asian Games). So, here I am,” he said.
Sanyal had earlier spoken about logistical problems at the Games, including athletes waiting eight to 10 hours without food before receiving their rooms. Despite his own withdrawal, he said India’s MMA bronze medal was something to be proud of given the challenges faced by the federation over the past year.
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Ask News18Varun Sanyal withdrew from the Asian Games after passing out and becoming dehydrated and exhausted during a sauna session while attempting to cut weight to meet the 77kg limit on Sunday.
Ask News18September 21, 2026, 17:48 IST
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