Jwala-Ashwini storm into Canada Open final

Ponnappa (L) and doubles partner Gutta

Calgary (Canada), June 28 (IANS) India's women's badminton doubles pair of Jwala Gutta and Ashwini Ponnappa stormed into the final of the $50,000 Canada Open Grand Prix tournament after beating Shiho Tanaka and Koharu Yonemoto of Japan 21-17, 21-16 in the semi-finals.

The opening game saw fortunes fluctuating every now and then with both sets of players exchanging leads at different times here on Saturday at the Markin MacPhail Centre.

With the game tantalisingly poised at 14-14, the Commonwealth Games silver medallist duo of Jwala and Ashwini pocketed four straight points to surge ahead at 18-14. The points proved crucial as they pocketed the game 21-17.

In the second game, the Indian girls were in control as they did not allow their opponents to settle down and kept on collecting points. Jwala and Ashwini led in the whole game and eventually clinched it 21-16 and with it the match.

They will lock horns against the Dutch pair of Eefje Muskens and Selena Piek in the title round.

Jwala-Ashwini earlier on Friday registered a 21-19, 21-13 win over Hong Kong's Chan Kaka Tsz Ka and Yuen Sin Ying in the quarter-finals.