Bengaluru, Nov 17 (IANS): Local girls Nikitha Ramakrishna, 28, and Kumari Jagrity, 22, from Fusion Academy and Sky Sports Badminton Academy, respectively, emerged victorious in the Red Bull Shuttle Ups Bangalore qualifiers here on Sunday.

The duo beat Poojitha and Niharika Sridhar from Racqueteers Academy 11-8, 11-4 in the final in just 14 minutes. They will now play the national finals which will be held in Hyderabad on December 8.

This is not the first time they have emerged winners in the Bangalore leg of a national tournament. Currently ranked ninth Karnataka, Nikitha and Kumari are regular top finishers at open badminton tournaments across the state.

They also won a bronze in the 2nd National PYKA Games in June this year and have continued to work together since then.

A total of 24 teams participated in the tournament and the winning duo will now be up against the other winners of qualifying rounds in Delhi, Hyderabad, Chandigarh, Guwahati and Mumbai. The champions will get the chance to play against ace India doubles player Ashwini Ponnappa and her partner.