Lost Focus, Putri KW Loses Chance at Indonesia Open

JAKARTA, KOMPAS – Putri Kusuma Wardani performed better when facing Akane Yamaguchi for the third time. However, when competing against a player of Yamaguchi's caliber, Putri still needs to learn to maintain focus even when only a few points are needed to win a game.

The moment Putri lost focus occurred in the second game of the women's singles quarterfinals of the Kapal Api Indonesia Open 2025 during the match at Istora Gelora Bung Karno, Jakarta, Friday (6/6/2025). She only needed three points to extend the match to a third game after losing the opening game. However, Putri ultimately lost with a score of 19-21, 20-22.

The world number 12 women's singles player was the only Indonesian singles player to reach the quarter-finals. Her teammate, Komang Ayu Cahya Dewi, was eliminated in the first round, just like the men's singles player Chico Aura Dwi Wardoyo. Meanwhile, Jonatan Christie and Alwi Farhan lost in the second round.

The turning point from leading 18-13 to trailing 18-20, which occurred in the second game, opened Putri's eyes to the fact that scoring point by point against top world players is not an easy task.

Putri immediately led 6-0 by making four winners. Her advantage increased to seven points at the interval.

Putri's tactics in holding off the rally subsequently made Yamaguchi uncomfortable and led to mistakes, giving her a lead of 18-13. She only needed three more points for the match against the 2021 and 2022 world champion to go to three games for the first time, after having always lost in two games in their encounters two years ago.

However, Putri fell behind 18-20 when Yamaguchi seized seven consecutive points. This means that not once did the Japanese athlete, known for her tenacious play and agile movements, make a mistake.

In fact, as Yamaguchi said after the match, he had already “resigned himself” and started to think about the course of the game when he was 13-18 behind.

"I thought, losing the second game was certain. That's why I thought about how to fight in the last game, trying to find the right way, and trying to make the rally last as long as possible so that the opponent's stamina can be reduced as much as possible," he said.

However, when thinking “nothing to lose”, Yamaguchi was actually able to continue adding points, locking Putri at 18. If only Yamaguchi had not made an unforced error after leading 18-20, the match could have ended immediately.

The moment showcased Yamaguchi's playing quality, although her performance in the last 1.5 years has not been as good as in 2021-2023. The world number three player was able to execute a quick variation of long and short shots, making it impossible for Putri to reach them.

When returning Putri's smash, for instance, Yamaguchi does not always hit to the back area of the opponent's court. She can suddenly change it to a short shot that makes the shuttlecock fall in front of the net, leaving Putri, who is positioned at the back of the court, unable to reach it.

Today, I should have been able to take the second game. But, when the point was 18, I wanted to quickly win the second game. In fact, getting three points is not easy when playing against top players. - Putri KW -

In racket sports, such as badminton and tennis, returning an opponent's attack requires a good quality shot, so it is not merely about defense. A badminton player or tennis player will have an advantage if their defensive shots can turn the tables and complicate matters for their opponent.

Putri was able to extend her breath as she equalized the score to 20-20 when Yamaguchi made two consecutive errors. Suddenly, Istora erupted with the shouts and applause of the audience. The cries of "Indonesia! Indonesia!" were once again heard loudly from the stands as the audience had the opportunity to watch Putri's performance for a longer time.

In a situation where one player had to be ahead by two points, Yamaguchi took advantage of the opportunity first. She added two consecutive points with a smash that sent the shuttlecock over the sideline and driving it towards the back of the Putri court.

"Today, I should have been able to take the second game. However, at point 18, I wanted to quickly win the second game. In fact, scoring those three points is not easy when facing a top player," said Putri.

When the opponent approached, Putri did not deny that she felt a bit panicked. This made her eager to score points quickly, but it ultimately resulted in a mistake.

However, with the performance displayed in the first session of the quarter-finals, Putri still has a positive aspect. "I was able to showcase all my skills. Even though I lost, it was difficult for her to defeat me," she said.

In the semifinals, Yamaguchi will face a player who has been her long-time rival, An Se-young (South Korea). The world number one defeated the Thai player, Pornpawee Chochuwong, for the 11th time. An won with a score of 21-11, 21-10.

The meeting between Yamaguchi and An will take place for the 27th time. Their intense rivalry is reflected in Yamaguchi's slight edge, which stands at 14-12. However, An emerged victorious in their last encounter during the All England semifinals, winning 21-12, 21-17.

"An Se-young is strong. Therefore, it will be difficult to score points when facing her. However, I will do my best and try to score as many points as possible," said Yamaguchi, who also mentioned that there are four to five strong competitors, including An and Chen.

For An, the semifinals of the Indonesia Open mark the fifth out of six tournaments in 2025. From the beginning of the year until May, An has played in 25 matches without a loss.

With 20 victories, he won four tournaments, namely the Malaysia Open, India Open, Indonesia Masters, and All England. An also won all five matches in the Sudirman Cup team championship as South Korea reached the final.

The 25-match winning streak was stopped by Chinese player Chen Yu Fei in the quarter-finals of the Singapore Open, May 27-June 1.

The Central Board of the Indonesian Badminton Association (PBSI) announced that Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Shohibul Fikri will be paired together to compete in tournaments in Asia in July. They will duet at the Japan Open from July 15-20, the China Open from July 22-27, and the Macau Open from July 29 to August 3.

Antonius Budi Ariantho, the men's doubles coach of the Indonesian national training center, stated that the pairing of Fajar and Fikri was made because Daniel Marthin (Fikri's partner) is still recovering from a left knee injury. This injury was sustained while Daniel was part of the Indonesian team at the Sudirman Cup.

Meanwhile, Muhammad Rian Ardianto (partner of Fajar) will take a temporary break from the tournament for family reasons. "Therefore, I decided to pair Fajar and Fikri so that both can still experience the atmosphere of the match," said Antonius.