Ginting, Sakai in Indonesian Masters Badminton final

JAKARTA: Young Indonesian shuttler Anthony Ginting won a hard-fought battle against Taiwan’s Chou Tien-chen Saturday to secure a place in the final of the Indonesian Masters.

Ginting, 21, will face Kazumasa Sakai after the Japanese player dispatched world number five Son Wan-Ho, from South Korea, 21-18, 21-15.

On the woman’s side of the draw, in-form Indian player Saina Nehwal will meet world number one Tai Tzu-ying, from Taiwan. Ginting was the only Indonesian to progress past the quarter-finals in the men’s draw and he was a firm crowd favourite at Jakarta’s Istora Senayan Stadium on Saturday.

He won the first set 21-16, lost the second 21-13, but stormed home to win the decider 21-12. Ginting will face stiff opposition from Sakai who, despite being ranked several places below the Indonesian, is hungry for a tournament win.

In the women’s singles, Nehwal beat Thailand’s Ratchanok Intanon 21-19, 21-19 to set up a showdown with Tai.