BIRMINGHAM – Two-time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu is set to miss the prestigious All England Championships 2026 starting this Tuesday. The Indian ace remains stranded in Dubai following the US bombing of Iran and the subsequent total closure of airspace across the Gulf region.
Narrow Escape in Dubai
The build-up to this Super 1000 event has been overshadowed by severe travel disruptions. Sindhu and her team, including Indonesian coach Irwansyah Adi Pratama, reportedly had a narrow escape following an explosion near their place of residence in Dubai.
They have since been moved to a secure location as tensions between the US, Israel, and Iran flared. With Dubai airports suspended since Saturday, the PV Sindhu All England Championships 2026 withdrawal appears inevitable, as she was scheduled to face Thailand’s Supanida Katethong in the opening round.
BWF Monitoring the Crisis
The Badminton World Federation (BWF) is maintaining real-time oversight of the situation.
“We stand ready to assist delegations experiencing delays and are reviewing potential contingencies within the competition schedule,” the BWF stated.
However, for Sindhu, the window for arrival has virtually closed. This PV Sindhu All England Championships 2026 withdrawal marks a sad turn of events for the veteran who was looking to add the elusive title to her trophy cabinet.
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Indian Contingent: Who Made It?
While some shuttlers took grueling alternate routes via Singapore and Africa, others reached Birmingham unscathed:
Lakshya Sen: Reached safely but faces a daunting task against World No. 1 Shi Yu Qi.
Ayush Shetty: The US Open champion arrived without issues and will face Indonesia’s Alwi Farhan.
Unnati Hooda: Traveled via Africa after her initial flight was canceled; she faces 8th seed Pornpawee Chochuwong.
Malvika Bansod: Faces a tough opener against Olympic Champion Chen Yufei.
Doubles Hopes pinned on Sat-Chi
Despite the PV Sindhu All England Championships 2026 withdrawal, India remains a threat in the doubles categories. Former World No. 1 pair Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty spearhead the challenge against Malaysia’s Kang Khai Xing and Aaron Tai.
In women’s doubles, Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand—two-time semifinalists here—will look to recreate their magic against Japan’s Sayaka Hirota and Ayako Sakuramoto.
The Elusive Title
India has not won an All England title since Pullela Gopichand in 2001. With the news of the PV Sindhu All England Championships 2026 withdrawal, the pressure shifts heavily onto Lakshya Sen and the doubles pairs to end the 25-year drought.