NEW DELHI: India’s badminton ace PV Sindhu was stranded in Dubai for more than eight hours after a missile-related disruption of Persian Gulf airspace led to an indefinite suspension of flights across the region.Sindhu was on her way to Birmingham to participate in the prestigious All England Open starting next Tuesday with Dubai scheduled as a transit stop. The unexpected shutdown of airport traffic has now raised serious concerns about whether he will reach England in time for the tournament.
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Giving an update on Sunday morning, Sindhu wrote, “The suffering continues and the situation is getting more dire by the hour.”She went on to describe a particularly alarming moment at the airport. “A few hours ago, there was an explosion near where we were holed up at the airport. My coach had to rush out of the area as he was closest to the smoke and debris. It was an extremely tense and scary moment for all of us,” Sindhu said.She assured fans of her safety, adding: “We are all safe now and thanks to the tireless efforts of the staff at Dubai Airport and the Dubai authorities, we have been moved to a safer location. A special thanks also goes to the Indian High Commission in Dubai for their incredible support and constant assistance in helping to keep us safe,” she added.“For now, we’re trying to rest and hold on to hope while we wait for things to settle down,” she said.This marked her second public update since the outage began.On Saturday, Sindhu posted a video of the crowded airport accompanied by the caption: “All flights suspended until further notice.She later shared that she was safe but unable to leave with her team, noting how quickly tensions had escalated and calling it “scary”.“It’s hard to process what’s happening right now. Hearing the wiretaps overhead and seeing how quickly everything has escalated is honestly terrifying,” Sindhu wrote on ‘X’.Reflecting on the situation, she added: “So many disturbing videos are coming to light and this is unfortunately the reality of what is happening. Dubai is a city that I love deeply, a place that has always felt safe and full of life, which makes this moment even harder to comprehend.“To everyone who sent messages and checked in, thank you, it really means a lot. I’m safe now, I’ve stayed here with my team and we’re doing well as the situation around the war with Iran continues to evolve,” she added.Sindhu also painted a picture of the tense atmosphere inside the airport.“Airports are chaotic with many families stuck and waiting, we all just hope we get over this soon. I’m sure the authorities are doing everything they can and like everyone here we are holding on to patience and hope,” she wrote.Summing up her feelings amid the uncertainty, she concluded: “Moments like these remind you how fragile normal life is. You pray for safety and peace for everyone involved.”
