Full Breakdown
India’s Day Two at the 2026 Asian Games: Shooting Success, Historic MMA Bronze and a Kabaddi Triumph
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event
On September 21, 2026 India added four medals to its Asian Games tally in Aichi-Nagoya. Three came from the shooting range—Himanshu Dhillon (silver) and Rudrankksh Patil (bronze) in the men’s 10 m air-rifle individual, and a team silver with Parth Mane—and the fourth was a historic bronze for Suchika Tariyal in the women’s traditional 60 kg mixed-martial-arts (MMA) event. The same day the men’s kabaddi team opened with a 49-24 victory over Japan.
Timeline
- September 21, 2026 – Suchika Tariyal settles for bronze after a draw-decision is resolved by a 700-gram weight advantage in favor of Singapore’s Hui Hoon Teo.
- September 21, 2026 – India’s men’s kabaddi side defeats Japan 49-24 in its opening match.
Key Figures & Groups
- Suchika Tariyal – 36-year-old MMA athlete, first Indian Asian Games medallist in the sport.
- Himanshu Dhillon – 21-year-old shooter, individual silver medalist.
- Rudrankksh Patil – International-level shooter, individual bronze medalist.
- Parth Mane – 18-year-old shooter, part of the team silver.
- Nikhil Kunde – President, MMA Sports Federation of India, provided the official explanation of the weight-rule decision.
Data & Statistics
- India’s medal count after Day 2: six medals – four silver and two bronze, placing the nation 12th in the overall standings.
- Shooting team score: 1,898.4 points (silver) versus China’s 1,899.0 points, which set a new world record.
- Kabaddi final score: India 49, Japan 24.
- Weight difference that decided the MMA semifinal: ? 700 grams in favor of Singapore’s Hui Hoon Teo.
Official Statements & Responses
MMA Sports Federation president Nikhil Kunde explained that after India’s protest the bout was ruled a draw, and the winner was determined according to the morning weigh-in figures, as stipulated by competition rules. He noted that the lighter athlete advances when a match ends level, which is why Teo progressed to the final while Tariyal received bronze.
Verbatim Quotes
- “This is more than my life. I will never forget that I came to Japan and got a medal for my country. I can now happily die,” — India's Suchika
Why It Matters
Tariyal’s bronze marks India’s inaugural podium finish in MMA, a sport making its debut at the Asian Games. The achievement expands India’s medal portfolio beyond traditional strongholds such as shooting and kabaddi, signaling growing depth in emerging disciplines. The shooting results reaffirm India’s status as a consistent contender, though the narrow margin behind China highlights the competitive gap at the highest level. The kabaddi victory demonstrates the team’s dominance and sets a confident tone for the tournament’s later stages.
What’s Next
India’s athletes will aim to convert the day’s silver medals into gold in upcoming events across shooting, combat sports and team disciplines, while the MMA contingent prepares for the final bout featuring Singapore’s Hui Hoon Teo.