Putri Wardani advances to Indonesia Open quarters, faces Chen Yufei next

Indonesian badminton player Putri Kusuma Wardani secured her spot in the Indonesia Open 2026 quarterfinals, triumphing over Canada's Michelle Li in a hard-fought three-game match at Istora Gelora Bung Karno in Jakarta. Wardani staged a comeback after dropping the first game, ultimately winning 18-21, 21-18, 21-16.

This victory held personal significance for the 23-year-old, serving as revenge for a prior loss to Li at the Uber Cup 2026 in Denmark. "Of course, I'm happy to win today. Especially since I lost to Michelle before. So this win means quite a lot to me," Wardani said after the match.

Wardani admitted to facing difficulties early on, particularly in anticipating Li's front-court play. However, she adjusted her strategy and performed better in the subsequent games. The vocal support from the home crowd at Istora played a crucial role in her resurgence. "When I was trailing, I heard the supporters continuously cheering for me. That became motivation to keep fighting and come back in this match," she shared.

As the only remaining Indonesian in the women's singles category of the Super 1000 tournament, Wardani now faces a formidable opponent in fourth-seed Chen Yufei of China. Wardani has lost all three previous encounters against the Tokyo 2020 Olympic gold medalist. Focusing on mental fortitude and consistent play, Wardani stated, "Tomorrow against Chen Yufei, I want to prepare my mental and mind better. I must maximize my focus compared to today. Also, I must be ready if the match becomes more physically demanding."

She identified maintaining focus throughout a match, regardless of the score, as a key strength of elite players. "I think top players, especially those in the top rankings, have incredible focus. They don't easily falter when trailing or when leading by a large margin," Wardani observed. Consistency in executing her game plan will be vital for competing against a player of Chen Yufei's caliber. "Consistency in using the desired technique and game pattern is important. When I get points with a certain pattern, I must consistently execute it," she added. While acknowledging the long road to a potential title, Wardani expressed her ambition to achieve the best possible result on home soil, stating, "Of course, I want to win. God willing. But ambition should not make me overconfident. I want to enjoy each match more."