Saturday, June 20, 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

    Pope urges international community to help fight Ebola

    Pope urges international community to help fight Ebola
    Pope Francis Wednesday called for international assistance to combat the Ebola virus epidemic in African countries, during his weekly general audience held at St. Peter's Square....

    Pope urges international community to help fight Ebola

    Turkey lifts ban on hijab in schools

    Turkey lifts ban on hijab in schools
    Female students in Turkey are free to wear the Islamic veil, or the hijab, to class, the country's Education Minister Nabi Avci has announced....

    Turkey lifts ban on hijab in schools

    Imran Khan to hold rally in Lahore Sep 28

    Imran Khan to hold rally in Lahore Sep 28
    Cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party has been allowed to organise a rally at Minar-e-Pakistan in Lahore this Sunday...

    Imran Khan to hold rally in Lahore Sep 28

    10 killed in US drone attack in Pakistan

    10 killed in US drone attack in Pakistan
    The drone targeted a vehicle in Alwara Mandi in the region. Foreigners were among those killed in the drone strike, Geo News reported citing sources....

    10 killed in US drone attack in Pakistan

    Three jihadi suspects arrested at Paris airport

    Three jihadi suspects arrested at Paris airport
    French police Tuesday arrested three men at Paris' Orly airport, suspected of joining Syrian insurgents in 2013, media reported.

    Three jihadi suspects arrested at Paris airport

    Not Roses All The Way: Sikh Human Rights Groups Plan To Indict Modi In America

    Not Roses All The Way: Sikh Human Rights Groups Plan To Indict Modi In America
    It wouldn't be roses all the way when Prime Minister Narendra Modi visits the US with protesters planning black flag rallies and holding a "Citizens' Court" to try him for his alleged role in the 2002 Gujarat riots.

    Not Roses All The Way: Sikh Human Rights Groups Plan To Indict Modi In America