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

    Canadian Pastor Jailed In North Korea Spends Days Working In Labour Camp: CNN

    Canadian Pastor Jailed In North Korea Spends Days Working In Labour Camp: CNN
    A Canadian pastor serving a life sentence in North Korea says he spends eight hours a day, six days a week, toiling in a labour camp, with no contact with the outside world.

    Canadian Pastor Jailed In North Korea Spends Days Working In Labour Camp: CNN

    Russian Girl Recites Vajpayee Poem, Earns Praise At Vishwa Hindi Diwas

    Russian Girl Recites Vajpayee Poem, Earns Praise At Vishwa Hindi Diwas
    Evgeniya, a student of Hindi at the Kendriya Hindi Sansthan, recited the poem "Pehchan" by Vajpayee flawlessly, after learning the language for just five months.

    Russian Girl Recites Vajpayee Poem, Earns Praise At Vishwa Hindi Diwas

    Grandmother Gives Birth To Granddaughter In USA

    Grandmother Gives Birth To Granddaughter In USA
    When Kelley was a teenager, she had jokingly asked her mother to carry her baby. Years later, her mom held true on her promise.

    Grandmother Gives Birth To Granddaughter In USA

    Indian American Community Lauded At Pravasi Bharatiya Divas In US

    Indian American Community Lauded At Pravasi Bharatiya Divas In US
    Opening an event to celebrate the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas at the Indian embassy here on Friday, he also highlighted the importance of the day.

    Indian American Community Lauded At Pravasi Bharatiya Divas In US

    If India Moves A Yard, Pakistan Will Move Even More: Ex-Pakistan Foreing Minister Khurshid Kasuri

    If India Moves A Yard, Pakistan Will Move Even More: Ex-Pakistan Foreing Minister Khurshid Kasuri
    He suggests a give and take between the two resolve outstanding issues. 

    If India Moves A Yard, Pakistan Will Move Even More: Ex-Pakistan Foreing Minister Khurshid Kasuri

    Two Teens Charged In Killing Of Canadian Found Stabbed In Belize: Police

    Two Teens Charged In Killing Of Canadian Found Stabbed In Belize: Police
    Matthiew Klinck — a producer and filmmaker from Quebec — was found stabbed to death after an apparent robbery at his home in Selena Village in Belize on Monday.

    Two Teens Charged In Killing Of Canadian Found Stabbed In Belize: Police