Jihin ‘Shadow Cat’ Radzuan chasing ONE Championship world title to inspire women

Malaysian MMA exponent Jihin Radzuan has set her sights on the ONE Championship atomweight belt, hoping to inspire young girls and women to believe they belong in sports or any industry they choose.

KUALA LUMPUR: Fresh off a technical knockout of previously undefeated Brazilian Gabriela ‘Gabi’ Fujimoto three weeks ago, Jihin ‘Shadow Cat’ Radzuan hopes to challenge for the ONE Championship atomweight (52.2kg) belt.

The Johor Bahru-born mixed martial arts exponent hopes to be a role model for Malaysian women by clinching the world title this year.

“I want to be more active in the ring this year,” said the 27-year-old.

“That’s always on the list, and I pray for the opportunity to bring back the belt. That will be a bonus!”

To achieve her goal of global domination, Jihin has been training at the Fairtex Training Centre in Pattaya, Thailand, since 2024.

It has been hard being away from home, but she knows reaching the top comes with sacrifice.

Jihin also understands that mixed martial arts is often seen as a brutal sport, with lingering stereotypes that question its place for women, but she hopes to show Malaysian women are just as capable in the cage.

Taking a short break to mark International Women’s Day yesterday, Jihin said: “International Women’s Day represents strength, resilience, and the courage to break barriers. As a female athlete competing on a global stage, I believe it shows that women can be just as disciplined, powerful, and hardworking as anyone else.”

“Every time I step into training or competition, I’m chasing my own dream. Hopefully, it can inspire young girls and women out there to believe that they belong in sports or any industry they choose.”

Jihin hopes women everywhere will continue supporting and uplifting one another.

“There is a popular catchphrase – ’girls support girls’ – I really like that as I have never been short of female encouragement,” said the former veterinary nurse.

“I truly appreciate the support I receive from women everywhere, whether they know me personally or not – from my family and friends to my teammates and supporters.

“Let’s keep proving that with hard work and belief, anything is possible. We should continue stepping out of our comfort zones and challenging ourselves.”

Looking ahead, the 2016 Malaysian Invasion Mixed Martial Arts champion said she hopes women’s sports will continue to grow, be sustainable, and be fair, with equal opportunities for everyone.

“Over the past few years, we’ve already seen many positive changes in women’s sports in Malaysia and around the world.

“What matters most is that we continue to stand together and have each other’s backs,” she added.

Main image: Jihin Radzuan/Instragram