PT Bank Negara Indonesia (Persero) Tbk or BNI appreciates the achievement of Indonesian women's singles player Putri Kusuma Wardani who successfully advanced to the semifinals of the Japan Open 2026 after scoring a historic victory over the second seed from China, Wang Zhi Yi.
Competing at the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium on Friday (7/17), the victory was an important milestone in Putri's career because it was her first victory over Wang Zhi Yi after seven previous matches between the two.
BNI Corporate Secretary Okki Rushartomo said Putri's success demonstrates that the consistent development of young Indonesian athletes continues to show positive progress at the global level.
"BNI is proud to see Putri Kusuma Wardani achieve a significant milestone by reaching the semifinals of the Japan Open 2026. This victory over one of the world's best players is proof that hard work, discipline, and continuous coaching can propel Indonesian athletes to continue developing and achieving at the international level," Okki said in a written statement.
Okki added that as a partner of the Indonesian Badminton Association (PBSI), BNI's support is a manifestation of the Company's real contribution as a state-owned bank in creating added value for Indonesia through the development of high-achieving sports talent.
This step aligns with the transformation of state-owned enterprises (SOEs) to encourage long-term value creation, a focus of Danantara Indonesia. By supporting the development of national athletes, BNI is strengthening the development of superior human resources capable of achieving global success while positively impacting the nation's progress.
Putri's success in reaching the semifinals reflects the growing maturity of young Indonesian athletes' champion mentality in facing global competition. This achievement is the result of a continuous development process, including opportunities to continuously hone their skills and enrich their experience competing in various international tournaments.
"BNI is optimistic that ongoing development, supported by opportunities to compete at the international level, will further strengthen the competitiveness of Indonesian athletes while developing champion characters that can inspire the younger generation to continue pursuing their dreams," Okki said.
Putri's achievement is expected to inspire and motivate Indonesia's younger generation to continue developing their full potential. This spirit aligns with BNI's Swadharma Bhakti Nagara (National Service) mission, which has been upheld for eight decades, to consistently provide added value and positively impact the nation's progress.
*Photo: PBSI Doc.