Indian badminton star P.V. Sindhu has withdrawn from the All England Open Badminton Championships after experiencing a frightening incident at Dubai International Airport, where an explosion occurred near the area where she and her team were waiting.
Sindhu, a two-time Olympic medalist, had been scheduled to face Thailand’s Supanida Katethong in the opening round of the prestigious tournament in Birmingham. Unfortunately, the unexpected security situation and travel disruptions in the Middle East prevented her from continuing her journey to the United Kingdom.
The incident took place on Sunday when an explosion reportedly occurred close to a section of the airport where Sindhu and her team had taken shelter. The situation unfolded amid escalating regional tensions involving the United States, Israel, and Iran which have led to heightened security concerns and significant disruptions to flights in and out of the region.
Sindhu later shared that the moment was extremely tense, as smoke and debris were seen near the affected area, forcing those around her, including members of her team to move away quickly for safety. The frightening experience left the players and officials shaken as they waited to further updates and assistance at the airport.
Despite the scare, Sindhu confirmed that she and her team members were safe. Airport authorities and diplomatic officials worked closely to ensure the safety of stranded passengers and athletes during the disruption. The Consulate General of India Dubai also provided support and assistance during this situation.
With flights cancelled and rerouted due to safety concerns, Sindhu was unable to travel onward to Birmingham. She later confirmed through social media she had safely returned to Bengaluru.
Sources: NST
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