Thaindian News

Jakarta, June 25 (IANS) Defending champion Saina Nehwal of India will take a shot at a hat-trick of Indonesia Open Super Series titles after she stormed into the final with a fighting 21-14, 14-21, 21-17 victory over Cheng Shao Chieh of Chinese Taipei Saturday.

In the final, she will meet third seeded Chinese Yihan Wang who made short work of compatriot Yanjiao Jiang 21-13, 21-12.

Fourth seeded Saina took 45 minutes to go past unseeded giant-killer Cheng, who upset top seed Shixian Wang of China in the second round.

Saina had lost to the Taipei player in the Singapore Open last week in the second round.

“It feels good to have got my revenge today,” Saina said after her match.

“I look forward to the final tomorrow as I love playing the Chinese players as they bring out the best in me.”

Saina, who has won four Super Series titles, has played Wang once in the Uber Cup finals last year and lost in three games.

Saina, who has been troubled by a knee problem, has not been in great form recently. She lost in the quarterfinals in Thailand Open and then exited from the second round in Singapore Open which she won last year.

Her only title this year has been the Swiss Open Grand Prix besides the runners up finish at Malaysia Super Series.

In the men’s competition, Malaysia’s Lee Chong Wei is also on the verge of winning his third consecutive Indonesia Open title.

World No.1 Chong Wei, who also won this tournament in 2007, defeated China’s two-time world junior champion Chen Long 21-17, 21-18 in 53 minutes to set-up a meeting with Denmark’s Peter Gade.

The former world No.1 booked his place in the title decider by beating giant killer Sho Sasaki of Japan 21-11, 21-14. Australia Open Grand Prix Gold winner Sasaki, who eliminated China’s Lin Dan and Chen Jin in the previous two rounds, ran out of steam Saturday.

Chong Wei, who is hoping to emulate Indonesians Ardy Wiranata (1990, 1991, 1992) and Taufik Hidayat (2002, 2003, 2004) as the only players to win the men’s singles crown three consecutive times, was given a tough time by Chen Long.

It was a good wake-up call for Chong Wei, who has breezed through the tournament without dropping a game.

Chong Wei, who will be looking to win his sixth title of the year and fourth Super Series crown, said he cannot take Gade lightly.

“Peter is an experienced player who knows his way around the court,” said Chong Wei, who defeated Gade 21-12, 12-21, 21-15 the last time they contested a major final, the Yonex Sunrise India Open in May.

“Even at his age (34), Peter is still ranked among the top four players in the world and can give anyone a hard time.”