oi-Shreya Sanjeev

PV Sindhu is back home – safe, relieved, and forced to redraw her calendar. The two-time Olympic medallist returned to Bengaluru after being stranded in Dubai amid widespread airspace closures triggered by escalating tensions in West Asia. En route to Birmingham for the All England Open, Sindhu and her team were caught in the disruption as flights were grounded at Dubai International Airport.

“Back home in Bangalore and safe,” Sindhu posted on X. “The last few days have been intense and uncertain, but I’m truly grateful to be back to my house.”

She thanked Dubai authorities, airport staff, immigration officials and ground teams for their support during what she described as a “very difficult time.” For now, she says, it is about rest and reset.

Who is replacing PV Sindhu at All England Championships?

The decision to return means PV Sindhu will miss the prestigious All England Championships, which begin Tuesday in Birmingham. A BAI official had earlier indicated her participation was increasingly unlikely as the situation in the Gulf region remained volatile.

Sindhu was scheduled to open her campaign against Thailand’s Supanida Katethong in the women’s singles draw. The Badminton World Federation had stated it was monitoring travel disruptions and preparing contingency plans for delayed arrivals, but the timeline left little margin.

Her withdrawal reshapes India’s women’s singles challenge. Unnati Hooda and Malvika Bansod will now carry the flag in that category. Hooda herself endured a disrupted journey, rerouting via Africa after her original flight was cancelled – an ordeal that underscores how geopolitics can ripple directly into sport.

In men’s singles, Lakshya Sen is expected to spearhead India’s campaign but faces a daunting first-round clash against World No. 1 Shi Yu Qi. Ayush Shetty is the other Indian entrant in the draw.

Sindhu’s focus now shifts forward. The Swiss Open on March 10 could be her next competitive stop, assuming travel normalises. Elite athletes train for match points, not missile alerts – yet modern sport exists inside a wider world that doesn’t pause for tournaments.

For PV Sindhu, the priority was clear: safety first, medals later.

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