ELIZABETH CANN pulled through some tough three set matches to net her second title of the year yesterday at the Finnish International Badminton Championships.

In the final English champion Cann played extremely well to take the title in two games, 21-12, 21-17, from Sweden’s Sara Persson who had earlier knocked out the No 1 seed in the semi-finals.

Said a delighted Cann: ‘I thought the final was going to be a tough match as my opponent had won through quite easily and I had come through a lot of three set games but it was actually my easiest match.

‘I was a bit shaky at the start of the tournament and the first round could have easily been a loss, it was a very close win, but I got better as I went along – there were some tough opponents and it was a great fitness test.

‘The win will definitely put me up in the world rankings (from 29th at present) but it’s difficult to say how much as there was another tournament on at the same time. I’ve got two tournaments left, the Europeans and the Dutch International, before the Olympic selection in the first week of May and I need to do really well in those.

‘There is no GB selection committee – it is purely a case of if you are in the top 16 you are guaranteed a place and top 18 you still stand a chance.

‘It is achievable to make that I just need to perform very well in the next two tournaments.’