Two-time Olympic medallist P. V. Sindhu has safely returned to India after being stranded in Dubai due to the temporary closure of airspace in the Gulf region amid escalating tensions.
Sindhu, who was en route to Birmingham to compete in the prestigious All England Open Badminton Championships, was forced to pull out of the tournament after flight operations were suspended following US and Israeli strikes on Iran and subsequent retaliatory action.
Announcing her return on social media platform X, Sindhu wrote, “Back home in Bangalore and safe. The last few days have been intense and uncertain, but I’m truly grateful to be back to my house.”
She expressed gratitude to the authorities and support staff in Dubai for their assistance during the crisis.
“A heartfelt thank you to the incredible ground teams, Dubai authorities, airport staff, immigration, and every single person who stepped up and took such good care of us during a very difficult time. The empathy and professionalism meant more than words can say,” she posted.
The former world champion was travelling via Dubai when airspace in parts of the Gulf region was shut amid military escalation. Iran later retaliated, reportedly impacting areas including Dubai.
Earlier, on February 28, Sindhu had shared details of her ordeal, revealing that an explosion occurred near her place of stay. She described the situation as an “extremely tense and scary moment” for her and her team, which included her Indonesian coach Irwansyah Adi Pratama.
“For now, it’s time to rest, reset, and figure out the next steps,” she added, indicating that she will take time before resuming competitive commitments.
