CNN Central News & Network-ITDC India Epress/ITDC News Bhopal: Varun Sanyal faints during weight cut, exits Asian Games campaign
Indian MMA fighter Varun Sanyal’s campaign at the Asian Games 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, ended without him competing in a bout. Ahead of the quarter-final in the men’s traditional 77 kg category, he fainted in a sauna while trying to cut weight. He was later declared medically unfit to compete.
According to the report, Varun had reduced his food and water intake to make the stipulated weight category. Around 30 minutes into a sauna session for weight reduction, he complained of dizziness, light-headedness and muscle cramps. A medical examination found mild dehydration. Doctors advised him to replenish fluids and salts.
Varun was spotted unconscious by a Nepalese athlete, who helped him. He was then taken to hospital. According to Nikhil Kundar, president of the Indian MMA Sports Federation, Varun’s condition is stable and he is out of danger.
Varun had received a bye in the opening round and was scheduled to enter directly in the quarter-final, where he was to face Bahrain’s Mukhammad Nabiyev. However, after being declared medically unfit, he could not take part in the bout.
Varun had earlier won a bronze medal at the Asian Championship held in China. In MMA, which has been included in the Asian Games for the first time, India’s other athlete Suchika Tariyal has assured the country of a medal by reaching the semi-finals in the women’s 60 kg category.
Varun’s incident has also highlighted the risks linked to rapid pre-bout weight cutting and dehydration in combat sports.
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