PV Sindhu, two-time Olympic medallist, faces heartbreak as she remains stranded in Dubai and is set to miss the prestigious All England Championships starting Tuesday in Birmingham.
Sindhu’s travel plans collapsed after US and Israeli strikes on Iran triggered retaliation from Tehran, leading to airspace closures across the Gulf region. Consequently, flights from Dubai were suspended, leaving Sindhu and her team grounded since Saturday.
The Indian ace, along with coach Irwansyah Adi Pratama, narrowly escaped danger when an explosion occurred near their place of stay. Authorities quickly moved them to a secure location as tensions escalated. Sindhu was scheduled to face Thailand’s Supanida Katethong in the opening round, but with Dubai airspace still closed, she will be forced to withdraw.
Meanwhile, the Badminton World Federation (BWF) continues to monitor the situation. Officials assured that they are prepared to assist delegations with delays or rerouting and may adjust competition schedules if necessary.
Several Indian shuttlers managed to reach Birmingham via alternate routes through Singapore and Africa. Lakshya Sen, India’s top men’s singles contender, arrived without issues and will face world No. 1 Shi Yu Qi of China. Rising star Ayush Shetty also reached safely and will take on Indonesia’s Alwi Farhan.
In women’s singles, Malvika Bansod prepares to challenge Olympic champion Chen Yufei, while Unnati Hooda, who travelled via Africa, must overcome jet lag against Pornpawee Chochuwong.
India’s doubles hopes remain strong with Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty leading the men’s campaign, Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand competing in women’s doubles, and Dhruv Kapila-Tanisha Crasto, along with Rohan Kapoor-Ruthvika Shivani Gadd,e contesting in mixed doubles.
RELATED STORY: PV Sindhu’s Dubai Ordeal: Explosion Halts Journey to All England Open
