Friday, June 5, 2026
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

    Indian-Origin Student Aashrit Abhinav Sundar Awarded Presidential Scholarship In US

    Indian-Origin Student Aashrit Abhinav Sundar Awarded Presidential Scholarship In US
    An Indian-origin student has been awarded a presidential scholarship in a US college for outstanding academic merit and an exceptional commitment to the field of culinary arts.

    Indian-Origin Student Aashrit Abhinav Sundar Awarded Presidential Scholarship In US

    ISIS, ISIL, Daesh: A Primer On Why The Terrorist Group's Name Keeps Changing

    ISIS, ISIL, Daesh: A Primer On Why The Terrorist Group's Name Keeps Changing
    The U.S. government has increasingly been using "Daesh" as its preferred name for the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, the murderous militant group also known as ISIS, ISIL and the Islamic State. Some facts:

    ISIS, ISIL, Daesh: A Primer On Why The Terrorist Group's Name Keeps Changing

    Teen Girl Allegedly Abducted, Driven Around And Released East Of Vancouver

    Teen Girl Allegedly Abducted, Driven Around And Released East Of Vancouver
    Police say the white van was driven around for about 90 minutes, before the teen was let out unharmed on Lougheed Highway, in nearby Coquitlam

    Teen Girl Allegedly Abducted, Driven Around And Released East Of Vancouver

    New Building Code, El Nino Put Off Plans For US Gurdwara

    New Building Code, El Nino Put Off Plans For US Gurdwara
    The Guru Nanak Sikh Society is looking after legal and construction issues of the gurdwara.

    New Building Code, El Nino Put Off Plans For US Gurdwara

    Paris Attacks: Photo Depicting Indo-Canadian Veerender Jubbal As Terrorist Condemned

    Paris Attacks: Photo Depicting Indo-Canadian Veerender Jubbal As Terrorist Condemned
    Jubbal's doctored photograph showed him wearing a suicide bomb vest and the iPad in the photograph was changed to look like a Quran.

    Paris Attacks: Photo Depicting Indo-Canadian Veerender Jubbal As Terrorist Condemned

    7 Indians Feature In BBC’s List Of 100 Most Aspirational Women

    It's all about Indian girl power all the way! Making a mark on the global map, seven Indian celebrated personalities including singer Asha Bhosle, tennis star Sania Mirza and veteran actress Kamini Kaushal have made it to BBC’s list of 100 most aspirational women.

    7 Indians Feature In BBC’s List Of 100 Most Aspirational Women