India’s double Olympic medalist PV Sindhu went through a scary experience after she was left stranded at Dubai airport while travelling to the All England Open Badminton Championships on Saturday, February 28. Her journey was disrupted after flight operations were suspended due to the ongoing Iran-Israel war and the subsequent tensions in the Middle East.

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Sindhu was on her way from Bengaluru to Birmingham to compete in the prestigious tournament, which is scheduled to take place from March 3 to March 8. However, things took an unexpected turn when her flight landed in Dubai and the
airspace was shut down due to missiles and drones reportedly fired by the Iranian authorities in response to attacks from Israel and the United States.

Sindu was left stranded at the airport as flight services were temporarily stopped. Speaking exclusively to CNN-News18, Sindhu explained what happened. “Firstly, thank you all who have been reaching out and checking on us,” she was quoted as saying to the media outlet.

“Well, I was transiting from Bangalore, where I train and live full-time now, to Birmingham in the UK to compete in the All England championships. And you know, once our flight landed in Dubai, events beyond our control began to unfold, and shortly after, you know, the airspace also was shut down. And the last few hours have been extremely tense. We could hear the sounds of interceptions overhead, and a few hours later, there was an explosion very close to where we were holed up at Dubai Airport,” she said.

Sindhu said her coach was just about 100 metres away from where the explosion happened. He had to quickly move away from the area to stay safe. “My coach was barely about 100 meters away there. You know, it happened, and had to quickly move out of the area. You know, experiencing something like this in such close quarters is truly, you know, it truly shakes the very foundation you’re built on and you never expect these things to happen to you or anyone close to you,” Sindhu revealed.

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… https://t.co/ZdNtuALk0P

— Pvsindhu (@Pvsindhu1) March 1, 2026

“But sometimes situations are beyond your control. They do so, you know, I feel incredibly blessed to have such a strong and united team around me, and everyone has stayed calm, supported one another and shown real strength during a very frightening situation. And currently, we are safe now and have been moved to a more secure place,” she added.

Sindhu thanked the Dubai airport authorities and airline staff for their support. She also expressed gratitude towards the Indian High Commission in Dubai for their quick response. Sindhu said that when she reached out for help, the High Commission immediately deployed a high-priority team to assist them.

“I’m deeply, you know, grateful to the Dubai authorities and the staff and Dubai Airport. Also, we’ve been, you know, incredibly tireless in ensuring everyone’s safety. We’re also truly grateful to Emirates and the airport staff for being incredibly kind and supportive. You know, with so many passengers stranded, their hands were understandably tied, but they showed genuine empathy and care towards everyone going through this difficult experience,” Sindhu said.

“I would also like to sincerely thank the Indian High Commission in Dubai for their extraordinary support. And when I reached out requesting assistance, the high commission immediately responded, and on high super priority notice, deployed his team to help us. They have been incredibly supportive of, not just to me, but to everyone stranded here, ensuring safety coordination and constant communication during a very difficult time, and anyone currently stuck or needing assistance is encouraged to reach out using the official Helpline Numbers shared by the high commission. And of course, we are truly blessed to have such a sensitised and credibile in looking out for Indian citizens here for now, we’re trying to get some rest and remain hopeful as the situation continues to unfold. So thank you for your prayers, messages and concern. It truly means a lot to all of us,” she concluded.

Odisha’s pride and India’s ace para shuttler Pramod Bhagat delivered a historic performance at the BWF Para Badminton World Championships 2026 in Bahrain, clinching the Gold Medal in Men’s Singles SL3 and adding a second gold in Men’s Doubles SL3–SL4 to complete a sensational double triumph.

In the Men’s Singles SL3 final, Pramod defeated Indonesia’s Muhammad Al Imran in commanding fashion with a scoreline of 21–12, 21–18. With this spectacular victory, he secured his sixth World Championship Gold in Singles and his fourth consecutive World Championship title, creating history once again for the nation.

With this latest gold medal, Pramod Bhagat overtakes the legendary Lin Dan, who had five World Championship gold medals in men’s singles, further cementing his legacy as one of the most accomplished shuttlers in the sport’s history.

Pramod’s World Championship Men’s Singles Gold Medal victories now stand at 2009, 2015, 2019, 2022, 2024 and 2026 — a remarkable tally of six gold medals in the marquee category.

Reflecting on his milestone achievement, Pramod Bhagat said, “Winning my sixth World Championship gold and fourth consecutive title is an emotional moment for me. Lin Dan has always been my idol, and to surpass his record is truly special. Every medal represents years of hard work, sacrifice and belief. To continue making history for India and raise the bar higher motivates me even more. I dedicate this victory to my country and everyone who has supported me throughout my journey.”

Pramod’s golden run in Bahrain extended to the Men’s Doubles SL3–SL4 category, where he partnered with Sukant Kadam to claim the gold medal. The Indian duo defeated fellow Indians Jagadesh Dilli and Naveen Sivakumar 21–19, 21–16 in a high-intensity final, showcasing exceptional teamwork and composure.

For Sukant Kadam, the championship proved equally rewarding. Alongside his doubles gold with Pramod, he also secured a bronze medal in Men’s Singles, highlighting his consistency across categories.

Sukant Kadam said, “Winning doubles gold with Pramod at the World Championships is a proud moment. We’ve worked extremely hard to build our partnership, and delivering on the biggest stage is very satisfying. Adding a singles bronze makes this campaign even more meaningful for me.”
Krishna Nagar further strengthened India’s medal tally with an impressive double podium finish. He clinched a bronze medal in Men’s Singles SH6 category and added another bronze in Mixed Doubles along with Nithya Sre.

Krishna Nagar said, “It’s always an honour to represent India at the World Championships. Winning two medals is satisfying, but it also motivates me to push harder and aim for gold in the coming events.”

With Pramod Bhagat’s historic sixth singles gold and double crown, and Sukant Kadam’s gold and bronze medal performances, India once again reaffirmed its dominance in global para badminton at the BWF Para Badminton World Championships 2026. India’s medal haul extended across multiple categories, underlining the country’s growing depth in para badminton. Prem Kumar Ale and Alphia James won silver, marking India’s first-ever medal in the Wheelchair category at the BWF Para Badminton World Championships — a significant milestone for the sport in the country. Kumar Nitesh claimed bronze in Men’s Singles SL3, while Umesh Kumar and Surya Kant Yadav secured bronze in Men’s Doubles SL3–SL4.

In women’s events, Manasi Joshi and Thulasimathi Murugesan won bronze in Women’s Doubles SL3–SU5, while Chirag Baretha and Mandeep Kaur secured bronze in Mixed Doubles SL3–SU5. Naveen Sivakumar clinched silver in SL4, Manisha Ramdass won silver in Women’s Singles SU5, and Nithya Sre added another silver in women’s singles to cap off a memorable campaign.