Putri Kusuma Wardani Reflects on Quarterfinal Exit at All England Open

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Indonesian rising badminton star Putri Kusuma Wardani admitted that breaking through the dominance of the world’s top players remains a challenge, after her run at the prestigious All England Open 2026 ended in the quarterfinals.

Facing South Korea’s world number one An Se Young at Birmingham’s Utilita Arena, Birmingham, United Kingdom, on Friday, March 6, Putri fell in straight games, 11–21 and 14–21. The defeat marked her ninth loss against the reigning champion, underscoring the gap she still needs to close at the elite level.

“Against the top four players, there are still many things I need to improve. Consistency and mental resilience on court are the biggest challenges. I can score two or three points in a row, but then lose momentum and concede many," Putri said, as quoted on PBSI official website,

Currently ranked sixth in the world, Putri acknowledged that she has yet to rediscover the formula that once allowed her to push An Se Young harder-- particularly in their clash at the 2025 BWF World Tour Finals, where she delivered a more competitive performance.

“In the last two meetings, my resistance hasn’t been the same as at the World Tour Finals. We’ve played each other often, and of course we both learn from each other’s strengths and weaknesses," she explained.

Despite the setback, Putri views her All England campaign as a valuable learning experience. She highlighted how An Se Young’s style goes beyond aggressive play, often forcing opponents into making errors.

“This is a very good experience, reaching the quarterfinals of the All England. I learned from the world number one how to think and maintain consistency on court. Her game is not only about defeating opponents, but also about making them falter on their own," she concluded.

Putri’s reflections reveal both the frustration and determination of a player striving to break into badminton’s highest echelon -- a journey that continues to test her resilience and adaptability on the world stage. ***