Last-minute dash, chaos, weight cut attempt: How Varun Sanyal's nightmare unfolded
Varun Sanyal recounts the logistical failures and personal health struggles that derailed his Asian Games debut in mixed martial arts. Despite his own disappointment, he highlights the significance of the sport's inclusion in the Games and the historic success of his teammate.
Why it matters
The story sheds light on the administrative challenges faced by athletes in emerging sports and the growing profile of MMA in India.
NEW DELHI: By the time Varun Sanyal finally reached his room in Nagoya, nearly 12 hours had passed since landing in Japan. He had flown from London to Mumbai, collected his Asian Games accreditation card, travelled via Singapore, spent hours proving he was a registered athlete, and then found himself sharing a room that wasn't meant for three people.A few days later, he was lying outside a sauna, hyperventilating after collapsing during a weight cut attempt that ended his Asian Games campaign before it had begun.Yet Sanyal, who has now returned to London, would rather remember the Asian Games as the moment mixed martial arts (MMA) forced itself into India's sporting conversation."Instead of focusing on what didn't happen, you focus on what did," he said in a conversation with TimesofIndia.com, referring to teammate Suchika Tara Devi's historic bronze medal — India's first Asian Games medal in MMA.For a sport making…
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