Badminton-India's Sindhu stranded at Dubai airport amid Middle East crisis


FILE PHOTO: Paris 2024 Olympics - Badminton - Women's Singles Group play stage - Porte de La Chapelle Arena, Paris, France - July 31, 2024. V. Sindhu Pusarla of India thanks the crowd after winning the Group M match against Kristin Kuuba of Estonia. REUTERS/Hamad I Mohammed/ File Photo

March 1 (Reuters) - India's ⁠double Olympic medallist PV Sindhu said that ⁠she was left stranded at Dubai airport on ‌her way to the All England badminton tournament after the flight operations were suspended in the city as a result ​of the ongoing conflict in ⁠the region.

Explosions were heard ⁠across the Gulf as Iran responded with a ⁠salvo of ‌missiles, including in the United Arab Emirates' capital of Abu Dhabi and Dubai, ⁠leading to Dubai International Airport suspending all ​flights.

“To everyone ‌who has been messaging and checking in, thank ⁠you, it ​truly means a lot. I am safe right now, stuck here with my team, and we are ⁠doing okay as the situation ​around the war with Iran continues to evolve,” Sindhu wrote in a post on social media on Saturday.

In ⁠an update on Sunday, she added that they have been "moved to a more secure place" while they "wait for things to settle".

The All England Open ​tournament is scheduled to start ⁠from March 3.

The Badminton World Federation (BWF) did not immediately ​respond to a request for ‌comment made outside business hours ​regarding any contingency plans.

(Reporting by Karan Prashant Saxena in Bengaluru; Editing by Christian Schmollinger)

Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel for breaking news alerts and key updates!

Next In Badminton

French revolution brewing in Horsens
Chong Wei not sold on scoring format change
Lee says RM1.3mil camp gives Malaysia perfect platform for Thomas-Uber Cup charge
Possible match-ups (Mas vs Kor)
Thinaah keeps Pearly in the loop via socmed
Underdogs S. Korea lean on doubles as mastermind Joo-bong plots surprise
Chong Wei says RM1.3mil camp key to distraction-free build up
Chong Wei sceptical of BWF's new scoring proposal
Beware the French connection in Thomas Cup
Miles apart, Thinaah keeps Pearly close

Others Also Read