Varun Sanyal collapses after a 30‑minute sauna weight‑cut, ending his Asian Games campaign. The 26‑year‑old, who had slashed nearly 5 kg to hit the lightweight limit, was found slumped on a bench, hyperventilating, as the clock hit the half‑hour mark.
The weight‑cut was a brutal sprint: Sanyal had already shed 5 kg in the days before, dropping from an 80‑kg walk‑around to 77.5 kg with the gi on. Two kilos remained, and the clock was ticking. At exactly 30 minutes, he stood up, felt a dizzy head‑rush, and collapsed onto a nearby bench—his body finally giving out.
But the collapse was just the tip of a larger iceberg. Upon arrival in Nagoya, Sanyal wasn’t on the registration list, the accommodation was a mis‑matched cruise‑ship berth, and no coaches had accreditation to stay in the athletes’ village. He became a translator, medical aide, and kit‑runner for his teammates, juggling duties that normally belong to support staff.
Sanyal says he will remember the Games for the first MMA bronze that teammate Suchika Tariyal earned, a historic moment that put India on the map in the sport. Yet the weight‑cut failure underscores how the logistical chaos nearly stole his entire campaign.
The incident has forced the Indian Olympic Association to audit its MMA support framework. A clear message emerges: India must provide proper accommodations, coaching, and medical oversight if it hopes to compete at the next Asian Games and beyond.
Next up, Sanyal is eyeing the 2027 World Championships in Abu Dhabi to rebuild his ranking—an opportunity to prove he can still fight the fight.