Indian shuttler PV Sindhu returned safely to India on Tuesday after spending the last few days stranded in Dubai amid the US bombing of Iran and the resultant airspace closure in the Gulf region.
The two-time Olympic medallist and her team were stuck in Dubai since Saturday, while en route to the All England Championships, from which she was forced to pull out.
“Back home in Bangalore and safe,” she wrote in a post on social media.
“The last few days have been intense and uncertain, but I’m truly grateful to be back at 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,” she added.
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Sindhu and her team, including Indonesian coach Irwansyah Adi Pratama, had a narrow escape after an explosion near their place of stay at the Dubai airport on Sunday, following which they were moved to a secure location.
She was scheduled to face Thailand’s Supanida Katethong in the opening round on Tuesday.
The tensions in the Gulf region have risen after the U.S. and Israel attacked Iran on Saturday, following which Iran’s Revolutionary Guard launched counterattacks, firing drones and missiles at Israel and strikes aimed at U.S. military installations in Bahrain, Kuwait, and Qatar.
Published on Mar 03, 2026
