Defeating Wang Zhi Yi, Putri KW Ends Her Poor Run and Qualifies for the 2026 Japan Open Semi-Finals

Putri Kusuma Wardani has finally broken her poor head-to-head record against Wang Zhi Yi. The Indonesian women's singles shuttler secured her first ever victory over the second seeded Chinese player at their eighth meeting, while also booking her ticket to the semi-finals of the BWF World Tour Super 750 Japan Open 2026.

Competing in the quarter-final round in Tokyo, Japan on Friday, Putri showed incredible mental fortitude by mounting a comeback after dropping the first game. The sixth seeded badminton player turned the tide of the match, eventually winning with a scoreline of 9-21, 21-17, 21-4.

This victory marked a special milestone for Putri. Prior to this match, she had been unable to defeat Wang in all seven of their previous encounters.

“Alhamdulillah, it feels such a relief to finally beat Wang Zhi Yi. Usually when I face her, An Se Young or Akane, the best I could ever do was take one game before collapsing in the decider. But I managed to win today, I am so happy,” Putri stated in an official PBSI press release.

Comeback After Being Outclassed In The First Game

Putri struggled to find her rhythm during the opening game. Wang Zhi Yi's solid gameplay and precise returns prevented the Indonesian representative from settling into the match, resulting in a lopsided 9-21 first game loss.

Entering the second game, Putri raised her intensity. She committed to longer rallies and worked to match her opponent's pace. This tactical adjustment paid off, as she took the second game 21-17.

“Wang Zhi Yi played really well in the first game, the pressure was obvious and I kept getting caught off guard by her returns. Going into the second game I tried to match her level, and my coach reminded me to keep lifting the intensity of my play - that was completely missing in the first set. I focused only on that without worrying about the end result. Slowly I found my rhythm, got comfortable in the rallies and started pulling ahead,” Putri explained.

Dominant Performance In The Deciding Game

Carrying the momentum from the second game victory, Putri played with growing confidence. She controlled the entire match flow with tight defence, patient build-up play and effective attacks, opening up a massive lead over Wang. Putri closed out the final game with a convincing 21-4 win.

According to Putri, the main key to her success on this occasion was her ability to maintain full focus throughout the entire match, especially once the deciding game began.

“One of the most important factors really was mental focus. I could not afford to switch off or lose concentration even for a moment. I just kept battling through, and it was absolutely exhausting afterwards. But this result is extremely valuable going into my upcoming matches,” said Putri.

Akane Yamaguchi Awaits As Tough Semi-Final Test

Victory over Wang Zhi Yi gives Putri valuable confidence heading into her next challenge. In the semi-final round, she will face home favourite Akane Yamaguchi, one of the top ranked women's singles players in the world.

While she acknowledges that the upcoming match will be no easy task, Putri confirmed that her win over Wang has given her a major confidence boost.

“Tomorrow I play Akane, it definitely won't be easy especially with her playing on home ground. I will need to refocus once again, carry this confidence forward, and today's win will be extra motivation for me,” she concluded.