PV Sindhu Recounts ‘Terrifying’ Dubai Ordeal Amid Iran-Israel Tensions, Misses All England Open

BY: Webdunia News Desk

Publish: Wed, 4 Mar 2026 (10:24 IST) Updated: Wed, 4 Mar 2026 (10:25 IST)

Two-time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu described her recent ordeal in Dubai as “terrifying,” after being stranded amid escalating tensions between Iran and Israel, forcing her to prioritise safety over competing at the prestigious All England Open Badminton Championships.

Sindhu said she landed in Dubai on February 28 at around 1:00 pm while travelling to Ireland, but within minutes, flights were suspended and the airspace was shut due to rising tensions in the region.

“Many people from the media were messaging to check if I was safe. It was really kind of them,” she said, recalling how the situation at the airport quickly spiralled into chaos.

“I landed at 1:00 pm and by 1:15 pm all flights were suspended. At first, they said it was delayed, then they announced that the airspace was closed. We didn’t know what was happening. It was extremely stressful,” Sindhu said.

She pointed out that some of her fellow players — including singles and doubles competitors — had transited through Dubai just hours earlier and managed to reach Birmingham safely.

“It was just a matter of a few hours. Had I travelled earlier, I would have made it,” she said.

Describing the atmosphere as tense and confusing, Sindhu said passengers waited for hours before being informed they would be shifted to a transit hotel. Immigration counters were temporarily closed and airport trains were not operational, worsening the situation.

“There were so many people. Flights from several countries were cancelled. It was complete chaos,” she said.

Sindhu revealed that while at the airport, her coach informed her about a loud sound near the premises.

“He called and said there was a huge sound — I don’t know whether it was an explosion, debris, or a drone. It was around 100 metres away. That was scary,” she recalled.

At the hotel, emergency alerts were repeatedly sent to guests’ phones advising them to stay indoors and away from windows.

“Five or six times we heard loud noises. Every day they said the airport would remain shut. It was terrifying,” she added.

The former world champion said she explored every possible option to reach London for the tournament but was unable to secure a flight.

“On one side, I was missing my tournament as the days passed. But on the other side, safety is most important. I tried every possible way to reach London, but nothing worked out,” she said.

Sindhu expressed gratitude to Indian authorities and officials who extended support during the crisis. She received calls from Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya, Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports Raksha Khadse, Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu, and officials from the Badminton Association of India.

“I must say hats off to the Consulate General of India in Dubai. The government coordinated extremely well and helped many Indians, including me, return safely,” she said.

Sindhu added that she had informed the Badminton World Federation (BWF) about her situation from the very first day.

“They understood the circumstances and assured me that the penalty would be waived considering it was a genuine situation,” she said.

While some players from Japan managed to find alternative travel routes, Sindhu was unable to leave from the UAE side.

“It’s unfortunate that I couldn’t compete. But as I said, safety comes first. I’m back in India safely now, and everything is fine,” she concluded.