Wednesday, June 17, 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

    Obama to millions of undocumented immigrants: 'You can come out of the shadows'

    Obama to millions of undocumented immigrants: 'You can come out of the shadows'
    WASHINGTON — If you took the millions of people touched by U.S. President Barack Obama's immigration announcement Thursday and gathered them together, their ranks would rival the population of Canada.

    Obama to millions of undocumented immigrants: 'You can come out of the shadows'

    Lone Indian American Lawmaker Ami Bera Stages Comeback Win

    Lone Indian American Lawmaker Ami Bera Stages Comeback Win
    Amerish 'Ami' Bera, the lone Indian American lawmaker in the US House of Representatives, repeated history as he edged out his Republican opponent in a California race two weeks after the elections.

    Lone Indian American Lawmaker Ami Bera Stages Comeback Win

    Obama looks to introduce immigration reforms

    Obama looks to introduce immigration reforms
     US president Barack Obama is expected to unveil his plans for immigration reform in an address to the nation Thursday.....

    Obama looks to introduce immigration reforms

    Armed man detained near White House

    Armed man detained near White House
    Secret Service spokesman Ed Donovan said RJ "Renae" Kapheim, 41, of Davenport, Iowa was arrested Wednesday, EFE news agency cited from the New York Times....

    Armed man detained near White House

    Modi among contenders for Time's Person of the Year

    Modi among contenders for Time's Person of the Year
    Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is in the list of 50 contenders for Time magazine's Person of the Year....

    Modi among contenders for Time's Person of the Year

    7 dead as epic storm buries western New York state

    7 dead as epic storm buries western New York state
    At least seven people died as a deadly epic storm dumped nearly six feet of snow on western New York state leaving people stuck in their homes and stranded on the roads....

    7 dead as epic storm buries western New York state