Sports news: India’s ace shuttler PV Sindhu returned to India safely on Tuesday after being stranded in Dubai for days, owing to the intensifying conflict in the Middle East. The two-time Olympic medallist made the confirmation via her official ‘X’ (formerly Twitter) handle, terming the past few days as ‘intense’ and ‘uncertain.’

Notably, Sindhu and her team had been stuck in Dubai after airspaces faced closures. According to reports, the group even had a narrow escape after an explosion near their place of stay rattled the area. The authorities then moved her and the team to a secure location, the reports claimed. 

“Time to rest, reset and..”: Details of Sindhu’s post

Taking to ‘X’, the badminton star wrote, “Back home in Bangalore and safe. The last few days have been intense and uncertain, but I’m truly grateful to be back. 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.” 

War prompts shuttler to withdraw from All England championships

The growing crisis in the Middle East ultimately compelled Sindhu to withdraw from the All England Championships. The shuttler was slated to face Thailand’s Supanida Katethong in the opening round, but continued airport closures stalled her venture in the tournament. 

Former coach reveals she is disappointed

Talking to news agency PTI, India’s former coach Vimal Kumar said that owing to the circumstances, Sindhu was deeply disappointed. He added that she had even considered travelling to Oman by road, but had to give in to fate due to safety concerns. 

Vimal further said he urged her to shift her focus towards winning a Super 1000 title or seizing another World Championships medal at home later this year.