Thursday, June 11, 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

    #BobbyJindalisSoWhite: De-Hyphenated Piyush 'Bobby' Jindal Causes A Twitter Storm In India

    #BobbyJindalisSoWhite: De-Hyphenated Piyush 'Bobby' Jindal Causes A Twitter Storm In India
    Louisiana's Indian-American Governor Bobby Jindal has found himself in the eye of a twitter storm ever since he kicked off his US presidential campaign distancing himself from his Indian heritage.

    #BobbyJindalisSoWhite: De-Hyphenated Piyush 'Bobby' Jindal Causes A Twitter Storm In India

    Wales Man Held Guilty Of Trying To Kill Sikh Dentist Sarandev Bhambra

    Wales Man Held Guilty Of Trying To Kill Sikh Dentist Sarandev Bhambra
    Zack Davies, 26, of Chester Street in Mold, told the court that he never intended to kill Sarandev Bhambra, 24, when he launched his hammer and machete attack, Mirror online reported.

    Wales Man Held Guilty Of Trying To Kill Sikh Dentist Sarandev Bhambra

    Same-Sex Couples Can Now Marry Across US

    Same-Sex Couples Can Now Marry Across US
    Giving gay rights activists their biggest victory yet, the US Supreme Court ruled Friday that same-sex couples can marry nationwide and states cannot ban such marriages - an issue that divides America and India too.

    Same-Sex Couples Can Now Marry Across US

    US Report Highlights 'Widespread Corruption' In India

    US Report Highlights 'Widespread Corruption' In India
    Even as it praised India for holding "the largest democratic elections in history", the US on Thursday highlighted "police and security force abuses" and "widespread corruption" among its "most significant human rights problems".

    US Report Highlights 'Widespread Corruption' In India

    Malaysia's Attempt To Move Diwali Holidays Faces Heat

    Malaysia's Attempt To Move Diwali Holidays Faces Heat
    A recent attempt by Malaysia’s Terengganu state education department to include Diwali holiday dates in the summer to extend the Hari Raya break has faced the ire of the Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA).

    Malaysia's Attempt To Move Diwali Holidays Faces Heat

    South Asia Fastest Growing Region In World: Report

    South Asia Fastest Growing Region In World: Report
    Far from being a non-performing region, South Asia is today the fastest growing region in the world, says a new report released on Thursday.

    South Asia Fastest Growing Region In World: Report