RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Indonesia's Putri Kusuma Wardani kept her BWF World Tour Super 750 Japan Open 2026 campaign on track with an opening-round victory, setting up a chance to avenge an earlier defeat as she pursues a podium finish in one of badminton's premier tournaments.

The sixth seed defeated American Zhang Beiwen 21-6, 21-15 in straight games at Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium on Wednesday, July 15, advancing to the second round where she will face Taiwan's Huang Yu-Hsun.

The upcoming match carries added significance for Putri, who lost to Huang in three games at Indonesia Masters 2026, 21-17, 19-21, 17-21.

"I will face Huang Yu-Hsun from Taiwan. I lost to her at this year's Indonesia Masters, so I want to play better than I did today," Putri said in a statement released by the Indonesian Badminton Association (PBSI) on Wednesday, July 15, as quoted by Antara.

Despite seeking revenge, Putri said she would not dwell on their previous meeting and instead focus on her own performance.

"I'll play with nothing to lose, without thinking about whether I've won or lost before. I just want to stay focused, believe in myself, and aim for the win," she said.

Against Zhang, Putri controlled the match from the opening game, allowing just six points after recognizing that her opponent's movement was slower than in their previous encounters.

“I’m grateful everything went smoothly and that I remained injury‑free. Zhang Beiwen’s performance did catch me by surprise,” she continued.

"In our previous meetings she was confident, played well, and didn't give away easy points. Today her movement looked heavier, so I kept placing the shuttle where she was least comfortable," she explained.

Putri also said the withdrawal of world No. 1 An Se Young of South Korea would not significantly change the women's singles competition, noting that many top-ranked players remain in the draw.

"An Se Young's withdrawal doesn't really change the competition because there are still many top players in women's singles. She was in a different section of the draw anyway, so I just want to focus on my own matches, one step at a time. Hopefully I can reach the podium at this year's Japan Open," she concluded. ***