Varun Sanyal Withdraws From Asian Games After Weight-Cut Illness
Varun Sanyal Withdraws From Asian Games After Weight-Cut Illness
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Key Points
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Sanyal had received a bye in the preliminary round and was scheduled to face Bahrain’s Mukhammad Nabiev in the quarterfinal.
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Medical tests found Sanyal’s Blood Urea Nitrogen level at the upper end of the normal range, with no electrolyte imbalance; doctors said he did not need intravenous fluids or medication and advised oral fluids and salt instead.
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According to MMA Sports Federation of India president Nikhil Kundera, a Nepalese athlete found Sanyal after he passed out during the sauna session, helped wake him and alerted officials; Sanyal was taken to hospital and returned to the cruise around 3 a.m.
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Before the competition, Sanyal said he had faced logistical difficulties after traveling from London through Mumbai and Singapore to Japan, including several hours spent resolving accreditation and accommodation problems.
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Sanyal trains between India and London and holds a first-class honours degree in business management from Queen Mary University of London; he has said Indian wrestlers Sushil Kumar and Yogeshwar Dutt influenced his decision to pursue martial arts.
Indian MMA fighter Varun Sanyal's Asian Games campaign ended before his quarterfinal match after he became dizzy and developed muscle cramps while cutting weight. Tribune India reported that Sanyal was declared medically unfit to compete in the men's traditional 77-kilogram division after experiencing complications from restricted food, water, and sauna use. He was India's only male competitor in MMA, though the country still secured its first Asian Games MMA medal when Suchika Tariyal advanced to the women's semifinals.
According to Mathrubhumi, Sanyal briefly passed out during his weight-cut session and was taken to a hospital, where doctors found him stable with no electrolyte imbalance. Medical tests showed his Blood Urea Nitrogen level at the upper end of normal range. MMA Sports Federation of India president Nikhil Kundera said a Nepalese athlete found Sanyal after he collapsed in the sauna and alerted officials.
Weight-Cutting Gone Wrong in the Sauna
Sanyal attempted an aggressive weight cut using restricted food and water intake combined with sauna sessions before his quarterfinal. Khelkhabar sources revealed he experienced dizziness and generalized muscle cramps during the process. A Nepalese athlete discovered him after he passed out in the sauna and helped wake him before alerting tournament officials.
Paramedics transported Sanyal to a nearby hospital where medical staff evaluated his condition thoroughly. Mathrubhumi reported that doctors found no serious complications — his electrolyte levels remained balanced and he showed no signs of severe dehydration. Hospital staff advised oral fluids and salt intake rather than intravenous treatment. Sanyal returned to his accommodation around 3 a.m.
India Loses Defending Champion Before Quarterfinals
Sanyal held a strong credential entering the competition. Tribune India noted he had won bronze at the Asian Championship and ranked fifth in Asia. He received a bye through the preliminary round and faced Bahrain's Mukhammad Nabiev in the quarterfinal — a match that never took place due to his medical withdrawal.
Tournament medical officials declared Sanyal medically unfit to compete after reviewing his hospital assessment. The decision ended India's medal hopes in the men's category. However, India still achieved its first-ever Asian Games MMA medal when female fighter Suchika Tariyal advanced to the women's 60-kilogram semifinals.
Long Journey and Logistical Chaos Before Competition
Sanyal had traveled from London through Mumbai and Singapore to reach Japan for the Games. Before the weight-cut incident, he spent several hours resolving accreditation and accommodation problems at the venue. These logistical delays likely contributed to his fatigue and reduced recovery time before attempting the weight cut.
The 77-kilogram fighter trains between India and London and holds a business management degree from Queen Mary University of London. Moneycontrol noted that Indian wrestlers Sushil Kumar and Yogeshwar Dutt influenced his decision to pursue martial arts. His withdrawal marked a significant missed opportunity to compete on Asia's biggest sports stage.
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