By OCA Young Reporter Zaynab Kawtharani
Nagoya, Japan, September 22, 2026: Singapore’s Tiffany Teo Hui Hoon won the women’s traditional under 60kg mixed martial arts gold medal at the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Games on Tuesday, defeating Uzbekistan’s Khiola Sobirova 3-0 in the final at Nagoya City Inae Sports Center.
Sobirova received the silver medal, while Cambodia’s Cheng Dalin and India’s Suchika Tariyal completed the podium with bronze medals.
The victory brought an emotional release for Teo, who had entered the competition carrying the expectations of representing Singapore on one of Asia’s largest sporting stages.
“I was really overwhelmed when I knew that I had won the match. I’ve never cried after a fight before,” Teo, 36, said.
“Representing Singapore at the Asian Games comes with a lot of added pressure and high expectations of myself. When the moment finally came together, it felt really overwhelming. Even though I was tearing up, they were tears of joy.”
Teo identified the final round as the decisive moment after she managed to take Sobirova down and sensed that her opponent had no answer.
The Singaporean also used psychology and showmanship as part of her approach, having previously encountered Sobirova during the qualifiers.
“A big part of fighting isn’t just technique. It’s also mental,” she said. “It’s about how you play with the psychology, trigger your opponent a little and cause them to make mistakes.”
Teo revealed that the attention surrounding the Asian Games had become difficult to manage in the weeks before the competition. Guidance from a sports psychologist helped her view pressure as a privilege and a gift that she did not always need to carry.
“I can simply appreciate that they believe I’m good enough and leave it there. I don’t have to take the pressure with me,” she said.
Understanding the competition rules also formed an important part of her preparation. Teo studied the handbook, reviewed footage from her previous defeat and prepared for the possibility of drawn rounds and an additional period.
“I had to understand the rules and play the game accordingly,” she concluded. “I’m very glad that understanding all of this helped me win the gold medal.”
