‘He Was Terrified’: PV Sindhu Recalls Coach Irwansyah's Ordeal Amidst Dubai Airport Chaos

Last Updated:March 03, 2026, 21:11 IST

PV Sindhu withdraws from All England Championships because of Middle East political turmoil. Coach Irwansyah terrified, team returns to India.

Two-time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu has revealed that her coach Irwansyah was left terrified after hearing a loud explosion 100m away while they were stranded in Dubai, forcing her to withdraw from the All England Championships in Birmingham.

Sindhu and her team were in transit through Dubai en route to Birmingham when flight operations were suspended because of escalating tensions in the Middle East after US and Israeli strikes on Iran.

The closure of airspace in the Gulf region left multiple travellers stranded, including Sindhu and her support staff. She and her team returned to India, pulling out of the prestigious tournament.

Recalling the tense moments, Sindhu said that Irwansyah experienced the worst of the situation. “He was terrified. When he heard the explosion, everyone rushed out and moved to another hotel. Even there, he could still hear loud noises, which made it even more frightening," Sindhu told News18 Sports during an interaction facilitated by the Sports Authority of India.

The coach was staying on the 12th floor of the transit hotel when the blast occurred nearby. “The whole situation was scary. Even from our hotel room, we could hear the sounds. It was unsettling for us, so I can only imagine how much worse it must have been for him, because he was much closer to the blast. He was just about 100m away when it happened, with a huge sound and thick smoke all around," she added.

As uncertainty gripped the region, Dubai Airports’ website indicated that several commercial flights were scheduled to depart on Tuesday morning. But authorities advised passengers not to head to the airport unless they had been contacted by their airline with a confirmed departure time.

Describing the atmosphere at the airport, Sindhu said it was crowded. “Yes, it was packed. Everyone wanted to return to their hometowns, which is understandable; safety comes first and people just wanted to be with their families. Because so many were trying to leave at the same time, the airport was full. I heard that some flights were cancelled and only a few were operating," she said.

Sindhu acknowledged the efforts of airline staff during the crisis. “There were discussions about airlines like IndiGo and Air India resuming services. The airline staff, including Emirates and others, were very accommodating. They were calling passengers, taking details and informing them via phone or email about confirmed departures. That was a huge relief," she noted.

Despite the assistance, the uncertainty weighed. “Until the very last moment, there was doubt about what would happen. But once we took off, I was just praying for a safe landing. That was the only thing on my mind," Sindhu said, while also expressing gratitude to the Indian government and the Indian Consulate General in Dubai for their support.

With the All England now out of the equation, Sindhu is scheduled to compete at the Swiss Open next week. But her participation remains uncertain because of limited flight availability. “The flights are full at the moment, since most routes are operating via Dubai. I have been trying different options and alternative routes to get to Switzerland, but everything is booked," she said.

“I am checking every day to see if something opens up. It is a very sensitive and uncertain time. I am doing everything possible to get there and represent my country, but right now, it isn’t in my hands," Sindhu added.

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