Indian badminton star Sindhu stranded in Dubai airport

Dubai: India’s badminton star and two-time Olympic medallist P.V. Sindhu revealed that she was stranded at Dubai airport while travelling to the All England Open. She, however, assured everyone that she was safe.

In a recent post she said, "The ordeal continues to unfold, and the situation is becoming more frightening by the hour. A few hours ago, there was an explosion close to where we were holed up at the airport. My coach had to quickly run out of the area as he was closest to the smoke and debris. It was an extremely tense and scary moment for all of us.

"We are all safe now and have been moved to a more secure place, thanks to the tireless efforts of the staff at Dubai Airport and the Dubai authorities. A special thanks as well to the Indian High Commission in Dubai for their incredible support and constant assistance in helping keep us safe. For now, we are trying to get some rest and hold on to hope as we wait for things to settle," he updated.

Earlier a day before, Sindhu shared her distress over the rapidly escalating situation. “It’s hard to process what’s unfolding right now. Hearing the interceptions overhead and seeing how quickly everything has escalated is honestly terrifying. So many disturbing videos are coming to light, and this is sadly the reality of what is happening. Dubai is a city I deeply love, a place that has always felt safe and full of life, which makes this moment even harder to comprehend,” she wrote.

Thanking those who reached out to check on her, Sindhu added that she and her team were safe despite being stuck amid the uncertainty surrounding the war with Iran. “I am safe right now, stranded here in Dubai with my team, and we are doing okay as the situation continues to evolve. The airport is chaotic, with many families stranded and waiting. All of us are hoping to get through this soon. Moments like these remind you how fragile normal life really is. Praying for safety and peace for everyone affected,” she said.

Meanwhile, India’s men’s doubles pair, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, have safely arrived in Birmingham. Chirag shared an update on Instagram, posting, “Safely landed in Birmingham before US struck Iran.” Doubles coach Tan Kim Her and shuttler Dhruv Kapila were also seen in the background of the video as Chirag took a stroll in the West Midlands.