sydney, Australia - Putri Kusuma Wardani has advanced to the final of the Australia Open 2025, defeating Canada’s michelle Li in a hard-fought three-game semifinal match on Saturday, November 22nd. The victory sets the stage for a highly anticipated clash against top-seeded world champion An Se Young.
This marks a critically important milestone in Putri KW’s career, propelling her into contention for a major international title. The Australia Open, a Super 500 event, draws top badminton talent globally, and Putri’s success demonstrates her rising prominence in the sport.A win against An Se Young would not only be a career-defining moment but also elevate Indonesia’s standing in the world of badminton.
The match against Li saw Putri KW initially fall behind,losing the first game 19-21. however, she demonstrated resilience, mounting a comeback to win the second game 21-11 and the decisive third game 21-12.
Putri KW started strongly in the first game, leading 5-0, but Li battled back to take an 11-10 lead at the interval. Despite briefly regaining the lead, Putri KW ultimately conceded the first game 21-16.
The second game saw Putri KW recover from an early deficit, winning five consecutive points to establish a 6-3 lead. She maintained momentum, leading 11-9 at the second interval, and ultimately secured the game 21-15, forcing a rubber game.
In the final game, putri KW and Li remained closely matched until the final interval, with Putri leading 11-10. She then surged ahead, leading 17-12, and reached match point at 20-14. Despite a late attempt by Li to close the gap, Putri KW secured the victory when Li’s shot went wide.
The final match between Putri Kusuma Wardani and an Se Young is scheduled for Sunday, November 23rd, 2025.
(rin/aff)