Exclusive | PV Sindhu Narrates Harrowing Experience In Dubai: 'Last Few Hours Have Been Extremely...'

Last Updated:March 01, 2026, 14:46 IST

PV Sindhu was stranded at Dubai Airport amid tensions but praised Dubai authorities, Emirates, and the Indian High Commission for their support.

India’s badminton star PV Sindhu narrated her harrowing ordeal as she was left stranded at Dubai airport on Saturday en route to the All England Open badminton tournament, after flight operations were suspended owing to escalation of tensions in the Middle East.

The double Olympic medallist, speaking exclusively to CNN-News18, revealed exactly what transpired.

“Firstly, thank you all who have been reaching out and checking on us," Sindhu exclusively told CNN-News18.

“Well, I was transiting from Bangalore, where I train and live full-time now, to Birmingham in the UK to compete in the All England championships. And you know, once our flight landed in Dubai, events beyond our control began to unfold, and shortly after, you know, the airspace also was shut down. And the last few hours have been extremely tense. We could hear the sounds of interceptions overhead, and a few hours later, there was an explosion very close to where we were holed up at Dubai Airport," Sindhu said.

“My coach was barely about 100 meters away there. You know, it happened, and had to quickly move out of the area. You know, experiencing something like this in such close quarters is truly, you know, it truly shakes the very foundation you’re built on and you never expect these things to happen to you or anyone close to you. But sometimes situations are beyond your control. They do so, you know, I feel incredibly blessed to have such a strong and united team around me, and everyone has stayed calm, supported one another and shown real strength during a very frightening situation. And currently, we are safe now and have been moved to a more secure place," she added.

Sindhu also thanked the airport authorities as she remains hopeful.

“I’m deeply, you know, grateful to the Dubai authorities and the staff and Dubai Airport. Also, we’ve been, you know, incredibly tireless in ensuring everyone’s safety. We’re also truly grateful to Emirates and the airport staff for being incredibly kind and supportive. You know, with so many passengers stranded, their hands were understandably tied, but they showed genuine empathy and care towards everyone going through this difficult experience. And you know, I would also like to, you know, sincerely thank the Indian High Commission in Dubai for their extraordinary support. And when I reached out requesting assistance, the high commission immediately responded, and on high super priority notice, deployed his team to help us. They have been incredibly, you know, supportive of, not just to me, but to everyone stranded here, ensuring you know safety coordination and constant communication during a very difficult time, and anyone currently stuck or needing assistance is encouraged to reach out using the official Helpline Numbers shared by the high commission. And of course, we are truly blessed to have such a sensitised and credibile in looking out for, you know, Indian citizens here for now, we’re trying to get some rest and remain hopeful as the situation continues to unfold. So thank you for your prayers, messages and concern. It truly means a lot to all of us," she said.

News sports badminton Exclusive | PV Sindhu Narrates Harrowing Experience In Dubai: 'Last Few Hours Have Been Extremely...'

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