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

    Three Young Muslims Shot Dead Near College Campus In North Carolina

    Three Young Muslims Shot Dead Near College Campus In North Carolina
    The victims were identified as Deah Barakat, 23, his wife, Yusor Mohammad Abu Salha, 21 and her sister, Razan Mohammad Abu Salha, 19, who shared an apartment.

    Three Young Muslims Shot Dead Near College Campus In North Carolina

    As Common As It Gets: Designers Okay Arvind Kejriwal's Style

    As Common As It Gets: Designers Okay Arvind Kejriwal's Style
    His "sloppy pants", loose untucked shirts and casual footwear may not make a hip fashion statement, but AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal, who will take oath as Delhi chief minister for the second time on Saturday after another stunning electoral victory

    As Common As It Gets: Designers Okay Arvind Kejriwal's Style

    Longtime Obama Aide David Axelrod Says Obama Falsely Told Public He Opposed Gay Marriage

    Longtime Obama Aide David Axelrod Says Obama Falsely Told Public He Opposed Gay Marriage
    WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama feigned opposition to gay marriage for most of his political career, compromising his true beliefs out of concern it could hurt him with voters, Obama's longtime political adviser disclosed in a new book.

    Longtime Obama Aide David Axelrod Says Obama Falsely Told Public He Opposed Gay Marriage

    Banned In India, 'Unfreedom' To Be Released In North America

    Banned In India, 'Unfreedom' To Be Released In North America
    "Unfreedom", a new Indian film banned in filmmaker Raj Amit Kumar's native India, will be released in North American theatres and simultaneously on digital channels via Film Buff on May 29.  

    Banned In India, 'Unfreedom' To Be Released In North America

    Cincinnati Archbishop Decries 'Fifty Shades Of Grey,' Calls It 'direct Assault' On Marriage

    Cincinnati Archbishop Decries 'Fifty Shades Of Grey,' Calls It 'direct Assault' On Marriage
    CINCINNATI — The Roman Catholic archbishop of Cincinnati is criticizing the "Fifty Shades of Grey" movie as "a direct assault on Christian marriage."

    Cincinnati Archbishop Decries 'Fifty Shades Of Grey,' Calls It 'direct Assault' On Marriage

    Two Guards Shot And Killed At B2Gold Operation In The Philippines

    Two Guards Shot And Killed At B2Gold Operation In The Philippines
    B2Gold Corp. (TSX:BTO) says two security guards have been shot and killed at its Masbate Gold Project operation in the Philippines.

    Two Guards Shot And Killed At B2Gold Operation In The Philippines