From Dubai chaos to home safety: PV Sindhu concerned about rankings after All-England withdrawal

Indian badminton legend PV Sindhu endured a harrowing experience in Dubai on her way to the All-England Badminton Championship in Birmingham, as flights were cancelled due to the escalating US-Israel conflict with Iran. The two-time Olympic medalist was stranded for days and ultimately had to withdraw from the prestigious event to prioritize her safety.

“I tried every possible way to go to Birmingham for the All-England, but that was not possible. I even considered taking alternate routes, even last night I was exploring various routes, one of which would have involved three stops and a 24-hour journey, and I would have reached Birmingham on Thursday, but by that time, the All-England would have already started,” Sindhu said in a media interaction organised by the Sports Authority of India.

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Now safe in Hyderabad, Sindhu’s main concern is how the withdrawal will impact her BWF World Rankings and her preparation for the next tournament, the Swiss Open in Basel from March 10 to 15.

“They said they will get back to me, and I am waiting for their response. They asked for my views, and I have told them that and will also talk to them as a member of the Athletes Commission,” she said.

Sindhu described the situation in Dubai as the worst ordeal she has ever faced.

“Soon after I landed in Dubai on the 28th (February) at 1 pm, we were told that all flights were suspended. We didn’t know how it was outside and what the situation was going to be because they told us to wait for some time. And then they said the flight was delayed. And then they said the airspace was closed. So it was like, you know, what was happening? It was very stressful,” she said.

Her Indonesian coach, Irwansyah Adi Pratama, experienced the biggest scare at the airport during the incident. “He called us from the airport, telling there was a big sound around 100m from him and there was a lot of smoke. We were not sure whether it was a drone attack or a missile. But he was safe, and the authorities soon got him out of the airport, and he was taken to a hotel. It was very scary, and we were very worried about how things would turn out,” Sindhu recalled.

Sindhu praised the Indian government and the staff of the Indian Consulate in Dubai for their assistance during the crisis. “They were very helpful, the officials inquired about my well-being, the sports minister sir, called me, and also officials of the Telangana government. I am thankful to them for their help in this tough situation,” she said.

Reflecting on the emotional stress of the incident, Sindhu added, “I am disappointed in missing out on the All-England because I had prepared a lot for it. But in the end, safety comes first, and I had to withdraw from it, as it was not possible to reach there.