Monday, June 29, 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

    Online or in cloud systems, privacy can be an elusive concept, as photo hacking case shows

    Online or in cloud systems, privacy can be an elusive concept, as photo hacking case shows
    Whether famous or seemingly anonymous, people from all walks of life put all sorts of things online or into cloud-based storage systems, from vital financial...

    Online or in cloud systems, privacy can be an elusive concept, as photo hacking case shows

    Obama says US won't be intimidated by Islamic State after second 'horrific' beheading video

    Obama says US won't be intimidated by Islamic State after second 'horrific' beheading video
    TALLINN, Estonia - President Barack Obama said Wednesday that the United States will not be intimidated by Islamic State militants after the beheading of a second American...

    Obama says US won't be intimidated by Islamic State after second 'horrific' beheading video

    Indian in UAE unable to pay bills, hospital says go home

    Indian in UAE unable to pay bills, hospital says go home
    An uninsured Indian man has run up more than $160,000 in medical bills after he suffered a brain haemorrhage and spent about six months in an Abu Dhabi...

    Indian in UAE unable to pay bills, hospital says go home

    India, Japan to elevate strategic partnership

    India, Japan to elevate strategic partnership
    Prime Minister Narendra Modi Monday said relations with Japan were of the "highest priority" for his government and announced a slew of initiatives...

    India, Japan to elevate strategic partnership

    Indian-Americans pay a price for running convenience stores

    Indian-Americans pay a price for running convenience stores
    Back in 2006, Joe Biden, then a Senate candidate ran into trouble for a remark that "you cannot go to a 7-Eleven or a Dunkin' Donuts unless you have a slight Indian accent."...

    Indian-Americans pay a price for running convenience stores

    Pakistan protesters break into PTV office

    Pakistan protesters break into PTV office
    Protesters Monday took over the Pakistan Television (PTV) network office here, as a result of which transmission has disrupted in Islamabad....

    Pakistan protesters break into PTV office