PV Sindhu is set to miss the 2026 All England Open due to Dubai travel disruptions, extending her wait for the elusive title as her mixed recent form and past Birmingham struggles continue to raise questions.
Explained: Why PV Sindhu is Missing All England 2026 Amid Middle East Tensions — Her Full Record And Best Finish at Badminton’s Most Prestigious Tournament | AFP
PV Sindhu’s long wait for an All England Open title is set to continue, as the Indian badminton star will miss the 2026 edition of the BWF Super 1000 tournament starting March 3 due to travel disruptions in Dubai amid escalating tensions between Iran, Israel and the United States.
The two-time Olympic medallist was left stranded at Dubai Airport alongwith thousands of people on Saturday after airspace was shut down following reported missile activity in parts of the region.
Authorities suspended flights as a safety measure, causing widespread disruption and affecting several international travellers, including athletes en route to major tournaments.
Sindhu and her team, including coach Iswansyah Adi Pratama, are safe and currently being looked after by UAE authorities. However, with the airport temporarily closed, they have been unable to travel onward to Birmingham for the All England Championship.
Earlier, Sindhu shared updates on social media describing the tense situation in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). While acknowledging the gravity of the circumstances, she also defended the UAE authorities for their support during the crisis.
With all due respect, I have to disagree.
— Pvsindhu (@Pvsindhu1) March 1, 2026
The authorities here in Dubai have been incredibly supportive through a very difficult situation. From the moment things escalated, we were taken care of with genuine concern and efficiency. We were provided a hotel room and clearly… https://t.co/4niAVxqfN8
"From the moment things escalated, we were taken care of with genuine concern and efficiency. We were provided a hotel room and clearly informed that until we are able to safely travel back, everything is being taken care of and covered. That reassurance alone brought a huge sense of calm," she said.
Unfortunately, the travel shutdown means Sindhu is set to miss the All England Open, where she was scheduled to face Thailand’s Supanida Katethong in the opening round.
Meanwhile, India’s other stars Lakshya Sen and Ayush Shetty have reportedly arrived at the venue without major issues.
Sen faces a daunting opening-round clash against world No. 1 Shi Yuqi of China, while Shetty is set to take on Indonesia’s Alwi Farhan.
Nevertheless, this is about Sindhu, and her unfinished business at the All England Open where she never reached beyond the semi-finals.
Sindhu is undoubtedly India's most decorated atletes, the first Indian woman to win two individual Olympic medals and the first Indian to become a Badminton World Champion. One can say that her trophy cabinet is nearly perfect, containing every major prize in badminton, except for the All England Open.
Since making her debut at badminton’s oldest and most revered tournament in Birmingham, Sindhu’s best performance came in 2018, when she reached the semi-finals before losing to Japan’s Akane Yamaguchi. She has never progressed to the final.
In 2025, she suffered an early exit, bowing out in the first round. She went down fighting against South Korea’s Kim Ga-eun in a three-game battle (21–19, 13–21, 13–21). Check her past records at the tournament below:
| Year | Round Reached | Opponent | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Withdrawn (Expected) | Supanida Katethong | — |
| 2025 | Round of 32 | Kim Ga-eun | 21–19, 13–21, 13–21 |
| 2024 | Round of 16 | An Se-young | 19–21, 11–21 |
| 2023 | Round of 32 | Zhang Yi Man | 17–21, 11–21 |
| 2022 | Round of 16 | Sayaka Takahashi | 19–21, 21–16, 17–21 |
| 2021 | Semi-finals | Pornpawee Chochuwong | 17–21, 9–21 |
| 2020 | Quarter-finals | Nozomi Okuhara | 21–12, 15–21, 13–21 |
| 2019 | Round of 32 | Sung Ji-hyun | 16–21, 22–20, 18–21 |
| 2018 | Semi-finals | Akane Yamaguchi | 21–19, 19–21, 18–21 |
| 2017 | Quarter-finals | Tai Tzu-ying | 14–21, 10–21 |
| 2016 | Round of 32 | P. Buranaprasertsuk | 21–18, 17–21, 12–21 |
| 2015 | Absent | — | Stress fracture |
| 2014 | Round of 32 | Sun Yu | 16–21, 15–21 |
| 2013 | Round of 16 | Juliane Schenk | 17–21, 14–21 |
| 2012 | Round of 32 | Tai Tzu-ying | 21–14, 16–21, 19–21 |
However, honestly, her recent form is not quite matching the dominance she once displayed. Her last title came at the Syed Modi International 2024. This marked her first BWF World Tour title since winning the Singapore Open in 2022.
Year 2025 passed without a single trophy. In the 2026 season, she showed flashes of her vintage best. At the Malaysia Open, Sindhu reached the semi-finals before going down to world No. 2 Wang Zhiyi (16-21, 15-21).
At the Indonesia Masters, she advanced to the quarter-finals and even set a world record for the fastest smash in women’s singles at 380.1 kph. However, her campaign ended in controversy following a red-card point penalty during a tense match.
Also Read: PV Sindhu Defends UAE Authorities Over Dubai Airport Chaos Amid Middle East Tensions
