Sindhu Withdraws from All England Open Amidst Middle East Conflict

Double Olympic medalist PV Sindhu will not compete in the 2026 All England Open badminton tournament after being stranded in Dubai due to ongoing turmoil in the Middle East.

Travel Disruptions Force Withdrawal

The Badminton World Federation (BWF) confirmed Sindhu’s withdrawal on Tuesday, stating that flight operations had been suspended in Dubai as a result of the escalating conflict. No.3 seeds Dechapol Puavaranukroh/Supissara Paewsampran withdrew from the YONEX All England Open Badminton Championships 2026. Former world champion Pusarla V Sindhu too withdrew from the most prestigious tournament on the HSBC BWF World Tour due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East where she remains stuck in Dubai and unable to reach the tournament in time, the BWF said in a statement.

Stranded at Dubai Airport

Sindhu initially announced on Saturday that all flights from Dubai Airport had been canceled. She described a tense situation, stating, The ordeal continues and the situation is becoming more frightening by the hour. A few hours ago, there was an explosion near where we were waiting at the airport. She further explained that her coach had to move away from the area due to smoke and debris. It was a very tense and scary moment for all of us. She and her team were later moved to a more secure location whereas awaiting a resolution to the travel disruptions.

Impact on Tournament Draw

With Sindhu’s absence, Wen Chi Hsu of Chinese Taipei will now face Supanida Katethong of Thailand in the first round of the women’s singles competition. Huang Yuxun and Wen Qixu (both of Taiwan) will also join the All England Open.

Broader Context of the Conflict

The travel disruptions are a consequence of escalating tensions in the Middle East, including attacks and counter-attacks between the United States and Iran. Explosions have been reported in the Gulf region, including in the United Arab Emirates, impacting air travel.

Korean Team Arrives Safely

The Korean badminton team, including Ahn Se-young, arrived safely in the UK on March 27th via Paris, France, and will participate in the tournament.

Sindhu’s Recent Achievements

Sindhu is a two-time Olympic medalist, having won silver at the 2016 Rio Olympics and bronze at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. She recently climbed to 12th in the women’s singles rankings after a period of rest following her marriage.

The situation remains fluid, with concerns growing as reports indicate a potential escalation of the conflict.

Source: Badminton World Federation, Reuters