Tuesday, June 9, 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

    Terrorism, UAE Investment In India, Digs At Pakistan: Watch PM Modi's Dubai Speech

    Terrorism, UAE Investment In India, Digs At Pakistan: Watch PM Modi's Dubai Speech
    In a veiled swipe at Pakistan, Modi, while addressing a massive diaspora event in the evening, said India and the UAE have come out against terrorism, "without any camouflage, in clear terms, without caring for anyone

    Terrorism, UAE Investment In India, Digs At Pakistan: Watch PM Modi's Dubai Speech

    Saddest Story: Tragic TB Death of Indian Man Manjit Singh In Australia Highlights Immigration Flaws

    Saddest Story: Tragic TB Death of Indian Man Manjit Singh In Australia Highlights Immigration Flaws
    According to Deputy State Coroner Hugh Dillon, the death of Manjit Singh was one of the saddest stories he ever heard, describing it as a "21st-century retelling" of George Orwell's "How the poor die"

    Saddest Story: Tragic TB Death of Indian Man Manjit Singh In Australia Highlights Immigration Flaws

    Indian Restaurant Owner In Dublin Attacked For Not Serving Drinks

    Indian Restaurant Owner In  Dublin  Attacked For Not Serving Drinks
    An Indian restaurant owner in Ireland was attacked by a drunk man after he was informed that the restaurant had stopped serving alcohol, a media report said on Monday.

    Indian Restaurant Owner In Dublin Attacked For Not Serving Drinks

    Indian Descent Man's Body Found In Fijian River

    Indian Descent Man's Body Found In Fijian River
    Fijian police is investigating the cause of death of an Indian descent man whose body was found floating in Labasa River, a report said on Monday.

    Indian Descent Man's Body Found In Fijian River

    Modi In UAE: Talks Investment, Visits Mosque, Meets Diaspora

    Modi In UAE: Talks Investment, Visits Mosque, Meets Diaspora
    Modi, who is here on a two-day official visit, was received by Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan at the airport and accorded a ceremonial welcome

    Modi In UAE: Talks Investment, Visits Mosque, Meets Diaspora

    Indonesian Plane With 54 Aboard Crashes In Mountains

    Indonesian Plane With 54 Aboard Crashes In Mountains
    An Indonesian passenger airliner, reported missing earlier on Sunday with 54 people on board, was seen by local residents hit a mountain, authorities here said.

    Indonesian Plane With 54 Aboard Crashes In Mountains