India’s star shuttle PV Sindhu was stranded at Dubai International Airport during the West Asian military conflict. The crisis forced authorities to close airports and airspace, leaving thousands of passengers stranded.
Sindhu traveled to Birmingham for the All England Open, which began on Tuesday, March 3, with Dubai as her connecting point. However, escalating tensions in the region have brought one of the world’s busiest transport hubs to a standstill.
10-12 hours at the airport, emergency alerts at the hotel
The two-time Olympic medalist landed on February 28. The airport was closed immediately after landing. She spent 10 to 12 hours at the airport before being moved to a transit hotel.
“It was quite a bad situation when we landed on the 28th. I kept getting a lot of calls and messages because the airport was suddenly closed as soon as we landed. We were informed that the airspace was completely closed and we would have to wait for further updates,” Sindhu told India Today.
The situation turned terrifying when her coach, still at the airport, heard a loud noise about 100 meters away. People started running in panic. He was immediately escorted to a bus and taken to a hotel. They arrived around midnight.
They received emergency notices at the hotel advising them to stay indoors and out of windows. “We heard bugging sounds, which was quite scary. We stayed inside the hotel the whole time and followed all the instructions carefully,” she added.
He missed the All England Open, safety matters most
Dubai International Airport and Al Maktoum International Airport have been suspended until further notice. Global air travel remained badly disrupted as the war in Iran kept major Middle East airports closed for a second day. Dubai Airports said flights had partially resumed on Monday, mainly to repatriate stranded passengers.
Sindhu was scheduled to face Thailand’s Supanida Katethong in the first round. The World Badminton Federation has confirmed that it has withdrawn from the tournament. She was replaced by Taiwan’s Hsu Wen-chi.
“I was actually traveling to compete at the All England Championships, so I was naturally worried about what was to come. Unfortunately, I couldn’t make it to the tournament. But I’m thankful to have come home safe – that’s more important at the moment,” Sindhu said.
She revealed that the timing was cruel. Some Indian players passed through Dubai just two hours before her and arrived safely in Birmingham.
Sindhu thanked Emirates for providing accommodation, Indian Consulate in Dubai for coordination and Indian government for support. She received phone calls from officials, including the sports minister’s office, to verify her safety.
The former world champion stressed that safety is her top priority despite missing out on a major tournament. Her ordeal highlighted the far-reaching impact of the West Asian conflict on international travel and sporting events.
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Issued by:
Amar Panicker
Published on:
March 3, 2026 6:52 PM IST
