Mary Kom on Bigg Boss 20: MMA star Suchika Tariyal says 'you're a legend, you'll win'
Synopsis
India's first Asian Games MMA medallist Suchika Tariyal paused her historic campaign in Japan to send a message to boxing legend Mary Kom on Bigg Boss 20 — 'You are a legend; you will win.' With Tariyal writing history on the mat and Kom dominating the Bigg Boss house, Indian combat sport is having a rare dual spotlight moment.
Key Takeaways
Suchika Tariyal became India's first Asian Games medallist in MMA , winning bronze in the women's traditional -60kg event at the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Games.
She lost her semifinal to Singapore's Hui Hoon Teo in overtime, confirming the bronze-medal finish at MMA's debut at the Asian Games.
Tariyal extended a public message of support to Mary Kom on Bigg Boss 20 , calling her 'a legend' who 'will win'.
Mary Kom is one of 16 celebrity contestants on Bigg Boss 20 , which premiered on 6 September on Colors TV .
Tariyal has a multi-sport career spanning judo, kurash, and MMA, having previously represented India at the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games and 2023 Asian Games .
India's MMA pioneer Suchika Tariyal, currently competing at the Asian Games 2026 in Japan, has thrown her support behind boxing icon Mary Kom on the reality show Bigg Boss 20, praising her gameplay and predicting victory for the six-time world champion.
Tariyal's Message to Mary Kom
Speaking from the Aichi-Nagoya Games, Tariyal addressed the boxing legend directly: 'Hello Mary Kom Didi, how are you? You are playing very well.' She went on to add: 'You've really got everyone in a tizzy. Everyone is scared of you. You are a legend; you will win. All the best.'
The shout-out is notable given that Tariyal herself had just scripted history at the very same Asian Games, becoming India's first-ever Asian Games medallist in mixed martial arts — making her endorsement a moment of one sports legend cheering on another.
Tariyal's Historic Asian Games Bronze
Suchika Tariyal etched her name in Indian sports history on Monday by clinching bronze in the women's traditional -60kg MMA event at the Aichi-Nagoya Games, marking MMA's debut at the Asian Games. Her semifinal campaign ended in a narrow overtime defeat to Singapore's Hui Hoon Teo, ending her shot at gold but securing an unassailable podium finish.
The bronze caps a remarkable multi-discipline career. A national-level judoka, Tariyal previously represented India at the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games, reaching the bronze-medal bout, and competed in kurash at the 2023 Asian Games. Her medal at Aichi-Nagoya is widely seen as a breakthrough moment for MMA in India.
Mary Kom on Bigg Boss 20
Boxing legend MC Mary Kom is among the 16 celebrity contestants on the 20th edition of Bigg Boss, which premiered on 6 September on Colors TV. The lineup also includes Kanika Mann, Mahhi Vij, Kushal Tanwar, Aman Gandhi, Isha Rikhi, Arishfa Khan, Qazi Touqeer, Asif Khan, Aamrapali Dubey, Rhiti Tiwari, Uditi Singh, Tanmay Singh aka ScoutOP, Yung DSA, and Love Gill.
Based on the Dutch format of Big Brother, Bigg Boss is one of India's longest-running Hindi-language reality franchises. The 20th edition continues to draw significant viewership, with Mary Kom's participation giving it a distinctly sports-star flavour this season.
Two Champions, Two Stages
The moment brings together two of India's most celebrated combat sports figures in an unusual context — one battling rivals on a reality TV stage, the other claiming a medal at a sporting event's historic debut. Both women's journeys, in their respective arenas, reflect India's growing depth in combat sports beyond cricket. With Tariyal's bronze secured and Mary Kom's Bigg Boss journey ongoing, fans of Indian sports will be watching both outcomes closely.
Point of View
And it deserves more than a footnote in a celebrity-support clip. Mary Kom's presence on a prime-time reality show reflects the complicated post-retirement calculus many Indian sports legends face — visibility on TV often sustains sponsorship and advocacy relevance more reliably than editorial coverage. Meanwhile, Tariyal's multi-discipline journey — judo, kurash, now MMA — points to a structural gap: India's combat sports ecosystem produces versatile athletes who must jump disciplines to find competitive pathways. The real question is whether a first Asian Games medal translates into a funded, institutional future for MMA in India.
NationPress
22 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Suchika Tariyal and what did she achieve at Asian Games 2026?
Suchika Tariyal is an Indian MMA and combat sports athlete who became India's first-ever Asian Games medallist in mixed martial arts, winning bronze in the women's traditional -60kg event at the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Games. She lost her semifinal to Singapore's Hui Hoon Teo in overtime before securing the historic podium finish.
What did Suchika Tariyal say about Mary Kom on Bigg Boss 20?
Tariyal cheered Mary Kom from the Asian Games in Japan, saying: 'You are a legend; you will win. All the best.' She also noted that Kom has 'got everyone in a tizzy' and that 'everyone is scared of you' in the Bigg Boss house.
Is Mary Kom participating in Bigg Boss 20?
Yes, boxing legend MC Mary Kom is one of 16 celebrity contestants on Bigg Boss 20, which premiered on 6 September on Colors TV. Other contestants include Kanika Mann, Mahhi Vij, and Kushal Tanwar, among others.
What is the significance of Suchika Tariyal's Asian Games medal?
Tariyal's bronze is historically significant as it is India's first-ever Asian Games medal in MMA, coinciding with the discipline's debut at the Games. She is also a multi-sport athlete who has represented India in judo at the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games and in kurash at the 2023 Asian Games.
When did Bigg Boss 20 start and where does it air?
Bigg Boss 20 premiered on 6 September and airs on Colors TV. It is the 20th edition of the Indian Hindi-language reality franchise based on the Dutch Big Brother format, featuring 16 celebrity contestants this season.
