PV Sindhu will miss this year’s All England Championships after being caught in an unexpected travel crisis in Dubai while en route to Birmingham.
The disruption came amid escalating hostilities in the region, with the US, Israel, and Iran engaged in missile exchanges that severely affected air travel.
“Yes… She is not participating in All England,” confirmed Badminton Association of India secretary Sanjay Mishra to Sportstar.
Her coach, Vimal Kumar, who has been in touch with her, said the disappointment was evident. “She’s understandably upset. She had prepared thoroughly and was eager to compete,” he told Indian Express.
“But she has now come to terms with the situation. At one stage, they even explored the option of travelling by road and flying out of Oman. However, the six-hour drive was considered too risky,” he added.
The travel turmoil may also have implications elsewhere in the draw. Kidambi Srikanth, who was listed as first reserve in Birmingham, could benefit if withdrawals materialise.
It is learned that Srikanth travelled from Mulheim to Birmingham following his second-round exit at the German Open. With players from at least one Far-East nation facing difficulties reaching the venue, a main-draw opening for Srikanth remains a possibility, though official confirmation is awaited.
Lakshya Sen, Ayush Shetty, the doubles pair of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, along with Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand, were able to leave just in time after departing on Friday. Meanwhile, players such as Malvika Bansod, who had been competing in Germany, confirmed that they had travelled in from mainland Europe and reached safely.
The BWF put out a release saying it was keeping a close watch, maintaining “real-time oversight of the situation and stand ready to assist delegations experiencing delays or route changes. This includes reviewing and preparing potential contingencies within the competition schedule should any players experience delayed arrival.”
Published on Mar 02, 2026
