Varun Sanyal forced to withdraw after being declared medically unfit
MMA athlete Varun Sanyal withdrew from the Asian Games after being declared medically unfit following a sauna session used for weight cutting. The Indian Olympic Association confirmed he suffered from exhaustion and dehydration.
Why it matters
Draws attention to the physical risks associated with extreme weight-cutting practices in combat sports.
MMA athlete Varun Sanyal, a late addition to the Indian squad for the Asian Games, was on Sunday forced to withdraw after being declared medically unfit for competition.
The 27-year-old, India’s entry in the traditional 77kg and one of two MMA athletes from the country, was found unconscious during a sauna session on the cruise ship Costa Serena while trying to cut his weight for the quarterfinal fight.
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