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

    Pakistan Senate extends support to PM Sharif

    Pakistan Senate extends support to PM Sharif
    Even as the protests against the government in Pakistan by two political parties continued, the country's Senate or upper house of parliament Friday unanimously passed a resolution rejecting the demands for the resignation of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and the dissolution of the assemblies.

    Pakistan Senate extends support to PM Sharif

    Islamabad protests our constitutional right: PTI, PAT

    Islamabad protests our constitutional right: PTI, PAT
    The anti-government protests in Pakistani capital's Constitution Avenue area are peaceful demonstrations, in accordance with the constitutional rights of citizens, Pakistan's PTI and PAT parties contended during a Supreme Court hearing Friday.

    Islamabad protests our constitutional right: PTI, PAT

    27 killed in CAR gold mine collapse

    27 killed in CAR gold mine collapse
    At least 27 miners have been killed in a gold mine collapse in the Central African Republic (CAR), authorities said Friday.

    27 killed in CAR gold mine collapse

    Austrian humanitarian aid for 100,000 people in Iraq

    Austrian humanitarian aid for 100,000 people in Iraq
    The Austrian government has approved one million euros ($1.3 million) in emergency aid from the Foreign Disaster Relief Fund (FDRF) to the UN in northern Iraq, the country's foreign ministry said in a statement.

    Austrian humanitarian aid for 100,000 people in Iraq

    Wife charged for Sikh man's murder in New Zealand

    Wife charged for Sikh man's murder in New Zealand
    The Sikh community in New Zealand's Auckland is shocked by the revelation that the wife of a Sikh man, who was murdered Aug 7 in his car, is an accused, media reported....

    Wife charged for Sikh man's murder in New Zealand

    US gurdwaras to help project positive Sikh image

    US gurdwaras to help project positive Sikh image
    Over 100 representatives from gurdwaras across the US have pledged support for National Sikh Campaign's plan to engage top US political operatives and media...

    US gurdwaras to help project positive Sikh image