KUALA LUMPUR: No Gregoria Mariska, no problem.
Indonesia’s women’s singles shuttler Putri Kusuma (pic) is not as well known as her illustrious teammate but made her presence felt in the Malaysian Masters by stunning Thailand’s former world champion Ratchanok Intanon 21-19, 21-19 to storm into the quarter-finals at the Axiata Arena in Bukit Jalil yesterday.
Putri, who is currently ranked No. 35 in the world, pushed world No. 13 Ratchanok all the way and kept her cool in a closely fought match to come out on top in 38 minutes.
It was the end of Ratchanok’s good run in Malaysia as she had won the Malaysian Masters twice in 2018 and 2019.
She is also the higher-tiered Malaysian Open winner twice in 2016 and 2022.
The 21-year-old was thrilled to step up in the absence of world No. 9 Gregoria.
“I’m very happy to beat a top player like Ratchanok,” said Putri.
“In terms of experience and ranking, she is far above me but I tried to make it difficult for her and control my shots.
“I wanted to show that Indonesia’s women’s singles can do well even without Gregoria.”
It was Putri’s second big win over a former world champion after she toppled 2019 world title winner P. V. Sindhu in the same stage at the 2023 Swiss Open in Basel.
The youngster is now hungry to claim more scalps.
“This win gives me more confidence to face the top players,” said Putri.
“I hope I can keep up my good form in this tournament.”
Putri will take on another Thai, world No. 20 Busanan Ongbamrungphan next for a place in the last four.
