Thursday, June 18, 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

    World's longest aircraft to fly China-US routes

    World's longest aircraft to fly China-US routes
    Air China will fly the Boeing 747-8, the world's longest aircraft, on the Beijing-New York and Beijing-San Francisco routes from January, the airlines said Thursday....

    World's longest aircraft to fly China-US routes

    Forbes Power List: Modi Ranked 15th, Putin Tops

    Forbes Power List: Modi Ranked 15th, Putin Tops
    Indian Prime Narendra Modi Wednesday joined the world's most powerful people ranking 15th on the Forbes list with Russian President Vladimir Putin once again beating US President Barack Obama to the top spot.

    Forbes Power List: Modi Ranked 15th, Putin Tops

    Sikh group seeks Obama support for justice for 1984 riots

    Sikh group seeks Obama support for justice for 1984 riots
    An umbrella Sikh group and a couple of human right bodies have written a letter to US President Barack Obama seeking his support for justice for the...

    Sikh group seeks Obama support for justice for 1984 riots

    Pakistan uses militants for proxy war with India: Pentagon

    Pakistan uses militants for proxy war with India: Pentagon
    A new Pentagon report says Pakistan uses Afghan- and Indian-focused militants operating from its territory to hedge against the loss of influence in Afghanistan...

    Pakistan uses militants for proxy war with India: Pentagon

    Wagah attack findings to be submitted in three days

    Wagah attack findings to be submitted in three days
    Pakistan's Punjab government has formed a joint investigation team to probe the Wagah suicide attack. It will submit its report in the next three days....

    Wagah attack findings to be submitted in three days

    Obama's agenda at stake as Americans vote

    Obama's agenda at stake as Americans vote
    Americans started voting early Tuesday in crucial mid-term elections, with Republicans expected to make gains in both chambers leaving President...

    Obama's agenda at stake as Americans vote