Tuesday, December 23, 2025
ADVT 
International

Sikh Man Kicked Out Of Wimbledon Queue For 'Making People Uncomfortable'

IANS, 13 Jul, 2016 12:45 PM
    A 20-year-old Sikh man was kicked out of an overnight queue to watch the Wimbledon tennis championships as he apparently made other people around him "uncomfortable".
     
    Govindpal Kooner took to Facebook last week to voice his anger at being thrown out and claimed it was an act of racism, cases of which have reported a rise in the wake of Britain's vote to leave the European Union (EU).
     
    He wrote on Friday: "Kicked out of the overnight camping line for centre court Wimbledon line 'because you make some people around you uncomfortable, so we're gonna have to report you and ask you to leave immediately, sir'".
     

    "Post-Brexit racism and the overt rise of neo-facism. Please advise how best to report this," he said.
     
    The sportsman who himself dreams of playing professional tennis was eventually allowed to enter the ground after re-queuing in the line a few hours later and made an official complaint about his treatment.
     
    "I felt awful. I felt like I should've fought and negotiated but I backed down and silently left. I don't feel like I'm ever going back now. It's still one of my favourite tournaments but can no longer definitively say it's a lifelong dream to play on centre court," he was quoted as saying by Metro.
     
    Dozens of people responded to his post saying he should report the "discrimination" to police.
     
    A Wimbledon spokesperson said: "We can confirm that a gentleman was asked to leave the queue at 4.42 am this morning (Friday) after a number of complaints from his fellow queuers about his behaviour."
     
    He has previously been warned about his conduct in The Queue on up to six separate occasions during this year's Championships.
     
    "We do acknowledge, however, that in this instance the event safety staff could have provided a better explanation to him. Happily, the same person has been in the Grounds today (Friday) watching the tennis," he said.
     
    But the man insists he did nothing that would warrant being escorted off the grounds, was not intoxicated, loud or aggressive and had not been previously warned about his behaviour.

    MORE International ARTICLES

    Australia Grants Special Visa To Indian Sikh For Father's Funeral In India

    Australia Grants Special Visa To Indian Sikh For Father's Funeral In India
    The 26-year-old, who arrived in Australia as a student, was awaiting the arrival of his father and mother at Melbourne Airport on Monday morning when the tragedy struck.

    Australia Grants Special Visa To Indian Sikh For Father's Funeral In India

    Quebec Man Charged With Smuggling 82 Kilograms Of Xanax Pills On Sled Across U.S. Border

    Quebec Man Charged With Smuggling 82 Kilograms Of Xanax Pills On Sled Across U.S. Border
    The U.S. Attorney's office says Cedrik Bourgault-Morin  was apprehended early Wednesday after he crossed the border from Quebec along a railroad line into Vermont

    Quebec Man Charged With Smuggling 82 Kilograms Of Xanax Pills On Sled Across U.S. Border

    Ricky Gervais Guitar Auctioned For $6,000 For Sanctuary That Houses Ikea Monkey

    Ricky Gervais Guitar Auctioned For $6,000 For Sanctuary That Houses Ikea Monkey
    A guitar donated by comedian Ricky Gervais to an Ontario primate sanctuary that houses the Ikea monkey has sold for nearly $6,000.

    Ricky Gervais Guitar Auctioned For $6,000 For Sanctuary That Houses Ikea Monkey

    Court: Taj Mahal Casino Rightly Ended Worker Benefits

    Court: Taj Mahal Casino Rightly Ended Worker Benefits
    An appeals court ruled Friday that Atlantic City's Trump Taj Mahal casino was within its rights to end health insurance and pension benefits to its workers, removing the last major obstacle to billionaire Carl Icahn taking over.

    Court: Taj Mahal Casino Rightly Ended Worker Benefits

    21 Year Old Man Charged With Vandalism At Los Angeles Gurdwara

    21 Year Old Man Charged With Vandalism At Los Angeles Gurdwara
    A 21-year-old man has been accused of vandalising a Sikh temple property in California in December, and will be arraigned next month, according to a media report.

    21 Year Old Man Charged With Vandalism At Los Angeles Gurdwara

    US Policeman Charged With Slamming Indian Grandfather Acquitted

    To the shock of the Indian American community, a US judge has acquitted an Alabama police officer who slammed a visiting Indian grandfather to the ground while taking a walk outside his son's home.

    US Policeman Charged With Slamming Indian Grandfather Acquitted