RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Indonesian women’s singles shuttler Putri Kusuma Wardani is determined to turn her recent European campaign into momentum for the 2026 Badminton Asia Championships (BAC), set to take place at the Ningbo Olympic Sports Center in China from April 7–12.

Putri’s run to the final of the Swiss Open Super 300 and her quarterfinal finish at the All England Super 1000 gave her valuable confidence, though she admits there are still areas to refine.

“I’m grateful to stand on the podium in Switzerland, even if it was only as runner-up," Putri said at the Indonesian Badminton Association (PBSI) National Training Center in Cipayung, Jakarta, on Wednesday, April 1, 2026, as quoted by Antara.

"But there are still many shortcomings, especially in the final, because I felt I couldn’t fully bring out my game and my opponent played very well,” she added.

At the Swiss Open, Putri fell to Thailand’s Supanida Katethong in straight games, 11-21, 15-21. In Birmingham, she was stopped by world No.1 An Se Young of South Korea, losing 11-21, 14-21. Despite the defeats, Putri views both matches as important lessons.

“At the All England I was happy to reach the quarterfinals. Even though I lost again, I learned a lot from that match,” she reflected.

Her focus now is on playing freely and consistently, without being weighed down by expectations. “Going forward, I don’t want to think too much about winning or losing. What matters is being able to bring out my full game. If I can do that, the match usually feels better and the results will follow,” she explained.

Putri is also mindful of the depth of talent across Asia. “In Asia, many players are strong, so I have to perform better than in previous tournaments,” she said.

Her target this season is to return to the podium while maintaining consistency. “The goal is definitely to win medals again. The important thing is to give my best in every opportunity,” she added.

Her past record at the Asian Championships has been less favorable, with first-round exits in her last three appearances. In 2025, she lost in three games to China’s top seed Wang Zhiyi. This time, Putri sees that history as motivation.

“It’s a challenge for me to prove I can do better. I’ll show it on court,” she concluded.

With lessons learned from Europe and a renewed determination, Putri is aiming to break past her previous limits and make the Asian Championships a turning point in her career. ***