Asian Games 2026: MMA fighter Varun Sanyal ruled out after passing out during weight cut

Indian mixed martial artist Varun Sanyal has been ruled out of the Asian Games 2026 after he passed out during a sauna session while attempting to make weight for his 77kg competition on Sunday.

Sanyal was staying on the cruise ship being used to accommodate athletes when he became dizzy and lost consciousness during the weight-cut process. He was subsequently taken to hospital for medical attention.

MMA Sports Federation of India president Nikhil Kundera said Sanyal was found by an athlete from another contingent, who helped wake him before he managed to contact the federation official.

“Fortunately, he was found in that state by an athlete from Nepal who woke him up. Varun was able to call me and we took him to hospital,” Kundera told PTI.

Kundera initially said Sanyal was stable and out of danger after receiving treatment, with the fighter returning to the cruise ship around 3am.

“There was not much to be worried about, so he was brought back to the cruise around 3:00am. He is now stable and out of trouble,” he said.

However, Sanyal was later declared medically unfit and withdrawn from the Asian Games.

The 77kg fighter had won a bronze medal at the Asian Championships in China earlier this year. He is the son of Sanjiv Sanyal, a member of the Prime Minister’s Economic Advisory Council.

(With inputs from PTI)