Gunning for a record ninth national title, defending champion Aparna Popat of Petroleum Sports Promotion Board made it to the women's final of the Canara Bank 70th National Senior Badminton Championships in Bangalore on Tuesday.
Aparna had to sweat it out against second seed B R Meenkshi, also from PSPB, before emerging victorious 11-8, 11-13, 11-7 in a keen tussle that lasted 72 minutes.
In Wednesday's final she will meet teammate Saina Nehwal, who had beaten her in the Asian Satellite Championships in Delhi in October.
Saina packed off top seed Triputi Murgunde, also of PSPB, 11-9, 11-8.
In men's section, top seeded Arvind Bhat (PSPB) moved into the final, defeating third seed Chetan Anand (PSPB) 15-8, 15-9 in an encounter that lasted 46 minutes.
