Sindhu Returns Home After Dubai Travel Chaos Forces All England Withdrawal
P. V. Sindhu has returned to India after being stranded at Dubai airport while en route to the All England Open, as global air travel disruptions forced her withdrawal from the prestigious tournament. The Badminton World Federation confirmed on Tuesday that the former world champion pulled out following the aviation turmoil triggered by escalating conflict in Iran. Sindhu, a double Olympic medallist, was scheduled to face Thailand’s Supanida Katethong in the opening round but has now been replaced in the draw.
Air travel across the Middle East remained severely disrupted as hostilities in the region led to the temporary closure of major airports, including Dubai — the world’s busiest international hub — for a second consecutive day. Dubai Airports later announced that flights partially resumed on Monday, primarily to repatriate stranded passengers. The crisis impacted several athletes, with Thai mixed doubles third seeds Dechapol Puavaranukroh and Supissara Paewsampran also withdrawing from the competition.
Sharing an update on social media, Sindhu confirmed she had safely returned home to Bengaluru after what she described as “intense and uncertain” days. She expressed gratitude to authorities in Dubai for their support during the disruption and said she would now take time to rest and reassess her next steps. The travel chaos unfolded amid widening military exchanges between Israel and Iran, heightening concerns of a prolonged regional conflict and further global aviation shocks.
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