Fifth seed Sung Ji Hyun takes on unseeded Japanese shuttler Sayaka Sato in the Women's singles final of 2017 Indonesia Open in Jakarta on Sunday.
Sung edged past American shuttler Beiwen Zhang 21-10, 8-21, 21-10 in the semi-final on Saturday. On the other hand, Sato came back from behind after being a game down in her last-four outing against Thailand's Nitchaon Jindapol to win it 13-21, 21-18, 21-14.
Sudirman Cup winner Sung has remained one of the most consistent shuttlers in the Women's singles circuit, but has suffered a title drought since she won Korea Open title in 2015. However, the early exits of top-ranked shuttlers of the likes of Tai Tzu Ying, PV Sindhu and Carolina Marin had given the Korean a good chance to go the distance in Jakarta.
Having had an easier passage to the title match, Sung has dropped only two games in the ongoing tournament. The 25-year-old will start as favourite to win the crown today as she has a one-sided 12-1 head-to-head record over Sako.
Sako had been underwhelming this season, but the 27-year-old should take confidence from her run in the ongoing tournament. Wins against in-form shuttlers of the likes of He Bingjiao, Akane Yamaguchi and Jindapol should has come at the right time and the Japanese shuttler will be determined to give it her all to cross the final hurdle later today.
