India’s ace shuttler and two-time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu has returned home to Bengaluru after her harrowing experience in Dubai after she was left stranded in the city due to the US bombing of Iran and subsequent closing of the airspace in the Gulf region. Sindhu, who was on her way to take part in the All England Championships, was left stranded in Dubai since Saturday, February 28.
Sindhu revealed on Tuesday that she was back in India and thanked the ground teams, Dubai authorities, airport staff and immigration for ensuring that she was safe and back home. Sindhu will miss the All England championships and said it was time for her to reset and figure out the next steps.
“Back home in Bangalore and safe.”
“The last few days have been intense and uncertain, but I’m truly grateful to be back to my house. A heartfelt thank you to the incredible ground teams, Dubai authorities, airport staff, immigration, and every single person who stepped up and took such good care of us during a very difficult time. The empathy and professionalism meant more than words can say.”
“For now, it’s time to rest, reset, and figure out the next steps,” said Sindhu.
SINDHU’S DUBAI ORDEAL
Sindhu arrived in Dubai on Saturday, with the city acting as a connecting point for her as she was on her way to Birmingham. As tensions in the region intensified, operations at one of the world’s busiest aviation hubs ground to a halt, stranding thousands of travellers — among them the two-time Olympic medallist — without any immediate clarity on their onward journey.
The Indian ace and her team had a narrow escape after an explosion occurred near the place of their stay on March 1. Sindhu revealed that moment was extremely tense and frightening, adding that her coach had to move away quickly as he was closest to the smoke and debris. She also said that the team was moved to a safer location, with the help of the Dubai Airport authorities and the Indian High Commission for their swift support.
Sindhu was supposed to meet Thailand’s Supanida Katethong in the opening round of the All England Championships. In the absence of Sindhu, Lakshya Sen and Ayush Shetty will be leading the Indian contingent at the tournament, after reaching Birmingham via alternate routes.
