[VIDEO] Safe Sport Act: M’sia’s first female Brazilian Jiu-jitsu exponent calls for protection of athletes’ well-being

KUALA LUMPUR – “Our duty as an athlete is to win. We have to excel. But how can we do all that if our wellbeings are not protected?” asked Cassandra J Poyong.

Cassandra is Malaysia’s first female Brazilian Jiu-jitsu (BJJ) exponent, and she wants the implementation of the Safe Sport Act to be done as soon as possible.

In an exclusive interview with The Vibes, she said that it is vital for athletes to have peace of mind in order to achieve the highest standard for the country.

Being the face of BJJ in the country, especially among the female counterpart, many other female exponents would go to her and share their unpleasant experience of being sexually harassed, as well as receiving unfair treatment from fellow higher-ranking athletes.

“I’ve had friends telling me that a jiu-jitsu gym owner whom we know, who also teaches there, was harassing his students,” Cassandra said.

“His (the gym owner) partner said she had to file for divorce because of his vile act. As for the students, they felt traumatised by the event and discontinued their training.

“I got really upset when I heard about the news, and I wonder how that can happen in our community. What he did will tarnish the jiu-jitsu reputation in Malaysia.”

The gold medallist said that she has opened a discussion with the Malaysia Jiu-jitsu Federation (MJJF) to look into issues of sexual harassment and abuse of power within the jiu-jitsu fraternity.

 She believes that having a safe environment for practitioners to train would not only improve athletes’ performance but protect their wellbeing too.

“The act (Safe Sport Act) would be a great start. I do believe each community needs to enforce rules that fall under the act so that we can prevent these revolting acts from happening.

“Some people would take advantage of the lack of rules enforcement and that’s where they thrive. They become predators.

“It is unfair for the victims. They need to be able to recover from the traumatic situation,” stressed Cassandra.

The Safe Sport Act is there to protect victims within the sports community from all forms of harassment, discrimination and abuse, unfair treatment, and unwelcome or unwanted attention.

The misconduct could be committed by anyone in the team, including athletes, subordinates or any individuals who are in a position of power.

With such protection, anyone within the industry can train and compete in a fair, respectful, healthy, and supportive environment.

Cassandra, who also coaches BJJ at Hikari MMA Gym, said being an athlete is not just about physical performance but a healthy mindset too.

“When I’m coaching at Hikari MMA Gym, I want my students to come to the class with a stable mindset. I want them to feel accepted and safe.

“We forbid romantic relationships between our employees, students, and instructors.

“Honestly, it’s a very delicate situation because it doesn’t just involve a police report, but also the law enforcement and psychological aspect of it,” she added.

Cassandra was the first Malaysian female Brazilian Jiu-jitsu (BJJ) exponent at the 2019 SEA Games where she clinched a silver medal.

Throughout her career in BJJ, she had also won two golds in the 2019 International Brazilian Jiu-jitsu Federation (IBJJF) Manila Open and several more gold medals in Malaysia’s BJJ tournament, Copa Da Malásia.

The 32-year-old Sabahan continued to make the country proud when she snatched a gold medal in the 2019 Abu Dhabi World Masters Jiu-Jitsu Championship, a world stage tournament regarded as the largest event in BJJ. – The Vibes, January 14, 2022