New Delhi, February 28 – Two-time Olympic medallist shuttler PV Sindhu, who was stranded at the Dubai Airport on Saturday en route to Birmingham in England due to flight operations being suspended due to escalating tensions between Iran and the US-Israel, is safe and hoping for things to settle down soon.
Sindhu, who is travelling to Birmingham to participate in the prestigious All-England badminton championship from March 3-8, communicated with her fans via a story on her Instagram page, thanking her well-wishers for their messages.
"I am safe right now. Thank you to everyone who has been messaging and checking in, it really means a lot," Sindhu said in her Insta story.
"Hearing the interceptions overhead and watching everything unfold in real time is difficult to process. The Dubai Airport is extremely chaotic, with many families stranded, all of us just hoping we get past this soon.
"I am praying for calm and safety for everyone affected," said Sindhu in her post on her Instagram handle.
Sindhu's flight was returned to Dubai Airport due to threats of attack by Iran over American and Israeli assets in the region.
Earlier, Sindhu had posted a video on her Instagram story, showing a crowded airport as people waited for an update from the authorities in the United Arab Emirates on when flights would resume. The former World No.1 in women's singles had posted the Insta story on her official handle with the caption, ‘All flights suspended until further notice.’
"PV Sindhu was set to travel to the All England, but got stuck in Dubai. The Badminton Association of India (BAI) is in touch with her as well as Emirates. Other players have already reached, but Sindhu insisted on travelling today and took a morning flight. The issue is expected to be resolved soon,” BAI sources told IANS.
Meanwhile, reports said the men’s doubles pair of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty have already reached Birmingham for the event to be held at the Utilita Arena Birmingham, King Edwards Road from March 3-8.
The crisis in the Middle East has escalated after Israel and the US launched air strikes on Iran, following which Tehran has threatened to attack ships and shipping interests in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. The possibility of attacks has disrupted air travel across the region to reach Europe and Africa.
Dubai Airport has already suspended all operations till further notice, while there have been large-scale flight cancellations in flights leaving from India to Europe and Africa as they transit via Dubai and the Gulf region.
