JUNNA Tsukii said shes's done taking disrespect and choosing to speak for the future of the athletes.

That's the firm stand taken by the karatedo gold medalist in the 30th Southeast Asian Games after she got the cold shoulder from the coach at a time when the whole team should be celebrating her feat on Saturday.

She simply refused to be silent no more.

"I think sana, no speak na lang. Sana tahimik na lang and I understand what they say because if I speak, what they're saying is that it might cause people to be confused," she said. "But why I spoke about this problem is that if I won't speak up, athletes in the same situation as mine will never fix the problem."

"Athletes have rights as humans. We're strong, of course, we train. But our minds and hearts are normal, same like all people. We're not monsters. He's not allowed to say bad words to us, even if you're an athlete, even if you're a coach."

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Tsukii bared in a lengthy Facebook post that her coach, whom she refused to name in her post, didn't bother to acknowledge her even after delivering the Philippines' first gold medal in the women's -50 kg kumite.

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The coach was later identified in subsequent reports in other news outlets as Turkish sensei Okay Arpa.

Karate Pilipinas Inc. president Ricky Lim refused to comment on the matter, but promised that he'll reach out to both sides and hopefully smooth things out between Tsukii and Arpa.

Tsukii claimed this wasn't the first time this happened to her since she prepared to compete in Karate 1 Premier League in Madrid, Spain last week in the leadup to the biennial meet.

PHOTO: Marlo Cueto

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The 28-year-old Fil-Japanese's participation there allowed her to garner points in hopes of qualifying for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

Yet that move didn't seem to sit well with her coach.

Tsukii even had the courage to ask Arpa why he's giving her that treatment, but what she got was a lot harsher and said in front of the whole team.

She shared: "I asked him, 'Sensei, you didn't say my name because also I played today.' And he said, 'You're not live in my life. Also, you died so I can't see you.' I talked to him, 'Sensei, you're coach of team, and me also, I'm team in the Philippines so you have contract about coach of the team, not personal coach.'

"But he say, 'No I'm not your coach, and we no need you.'"

Hurt with those statements, Tsukii opted to leave the room but not before standing up for what she felt was Arpa singling her out.

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"I'm so tired talking to him, it just hurts my heart. I don't want to talk more. I said, 'Sensei thank you, but I will record this one if you still like bully me or hurt me or attack me.' I still respect him, but it won't change the situation."

PHOTO: Marlo Cueto

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As tough as the situation was, Tsukii said she hopes she'll be the last Filipina karateka to deal with this problem.

"Why I do this is for our future. This problem isn't just in the Philippines. Even in Japan, there are problems with athlete's rights. But that's why I speak for my country and for our future as athletes," she said.

"When I stop playing, we'll still have many athletes and they have futures. I want change for their future. I hope I'll be the only one. I hope my experience won't happen to other athletes. No more of this, I hope. Sana."