Monday, June 15, 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-American Renu Khator Elected Head Of US Education Body

    Indian-American Renu Khator Elected Head Of US Education Body
    Indian-American Renu Khator has been elected chair of the Board of Directors of the American Council on Education (ACE), the major coordinating body for US colleges and universities.

    Indian-American Renu Khator Elected Head Of US Education Body

    New Zealand Prime Minister Backs Sikhs On Wearing Kirpans At Cricket Matches

    New Zealand Prime Minister Backs Sikhs On Wearing Kirpans At Cricket Matches
    New Zealand Prime Minister John Key said on Monday that the International Cricket Council's (ICC) decision to bar Sikh fans from carrying 'kirpans' at World Cup matches was wrong.

    New Zealand Prime Minister Backs Sikhs On Wearing Kirpans At Cricket Matches

    15 Killed In Lahore Church-Bombings, Christians Go On Rampage, Kill Two Suspected Attackers

    15 Killed In Lahore Church-Bombings, Christians Go On Rampage, Kill Two Suspected Attackers
    At least 15 people were killed in bomb attacks at two churches on Sunday in Pakistan's Lahore city, triggering violent protests from the minority Christian community which took to the streets, killed two suspected attackers, smashed vehicles and clashed with the police, media reports said.

    15 Killed In Lahore Church-Bombings, Christians Go On Rampage, Kill Two Suspected Attackers

    Unbowed By Ebola, Sierra Leone Seeks Canada's Blessing For Bank Leadership Bid

    Unbowed By Ebola, Sierra Leone Seeks Canada's Blessing For Bank Leadership Bid
    OTTAWA — It seems the ravages of Ebola have done nothing to diminish the political aspirations of tiny, troubled Sierra Leone

    Unbowed By Ebola, Sierra Leone Seeks Canada's Blessing For Bank Leadership Bid

    Mahatma Gandhi Gets Most Central Position In London's Parliament Square

    Mahatma Gandhi Gets Most Central Position In London's Parliament Square
    A statue of Mahatma Gandhi has been extended the most central position in London's Parliament Square directly facing Britain's Palace of Westminster or Houses of Parliament.

    Mahatma Gandhi Gets Most Central Position In London's Parliament Square

    Indian Student Falls To Death While Hiking In Arizona

    Indian Student Falls To Death While Hiking In Arizona
    Rhishav Choudhury, an Indian student from Guwahati, India, studying at a private liberal arts college in Ohio, fell to his death while on a spring hiking trip in Arizona.

    Indian Student Falls To Death While Hiking In Arizona