Early Exit for Putri KW: What Went Wrong in China Open 2025?

JAKARTA – Indonesian women’s singles shuttler Putri Kusuma Wardani suffered a disappointing first-round exit at the China Open 2025, revealing that inconsistency and lack of focus remain her biggest hurdles on the international stage.

Ranked world No. 10, Putri had aimed to reach at least the quarter-finals of the prestigious BWF World Tour Super 1000 tournament. However, those hopes were dashed after a tight three-game loss to South Korea’s Sim Yu Jin — 14-21, 21-14, 19-21 — at the Olympic Sports Center Gymnasium in Changzhou on Tuesday.

Putri admits ongoing struggles with focus and form

Following the match, the 22-year-old openly acknowledged her recurring issues in high-pressure matches.

“My main homework is still the same from the last two tournaments: focus and consistency,” Putri said in a post-match statement.

“I lost crucial points that I should’ve secured. My game remains too up and down.”

Her self-assessment reflects a concerning pattern seen throughout the 2025 season. Despite often starting matches strongly, Putri has repeatedly struggled to maintain her momentum — particularly in deciding games.

Missed opportunity in a winnable match

Against Sim Yu Jin, Putri rebounded impressively in the second game, evening the match at one game apiece. She even held the upper hand in the decider, only to falter in the final stretch due to unforced errors and questionable shot selections.

“In the final points, my returns actually made things easier for her,” she admitted.

“I misread her movements and she was able to build her attacks comfortably.”

The defeat marked Putri’s third loss in four encounters with Sim, underlining a persistent difficulty in converting tight matches into victories.

A frustrating setback amid signs of progress

Despite the loss, Putri’s 2025 campaign had shown promising signs, with quarter-final appearances at both the Malaysia Open and Indonesia Open. However, the result in Changzhou is now seen as a step back, especially given the expectations on her as one of Indonesia’s top-ranked women’s singles players.

With her early exit, Indonesia’s hopes in the women’s singles category now rest on Gregoria Mariska Tunjung, who will face Kaoru Sugiyama of Japan in the round of 32.

As the race toward the season’s final stretch intensifies, Putri’s path forward is clear — improved focus, tactical discipline, and greater consistency will be essential if she is to fulfill her potential and remain competitive among the world’s elite.