Saturday, December 20, 2025
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

    Can The Trump Card Triumph In November?

    Pundits, pollsters and the President all prophesied that Donald Trump would never be the Republican nominee. A Washington Post columnist even promised to eat his entire column if the Manhattan mogul triumphed.

    Can The Trump Card Triumph In November?

    Canadian Lumber Producers Reject Rumoured U.S. Calls For Return To Quotas

    Canadian Lumber Producers Reject Rumoured U.S. Calls For Return To Quotas
    Canadian forestry company executives are eager for a new softwood lumber agreement but say they are not interest in a rumoured U.S. proposal to reinstate across-the-board quotas.

    Canadian Lumber Producers Reject Rumoured U.S. Calls For Return To Quotas

    Obama Urges Scrutiny Of Donald Trump's Record

    Obama Urges Scrutiny Of Donald Trump's Record
    It's important for us to take seriously the statements he's made in the past,

    Obama Urges Scrutiny Of Donald Trump's Record

    The Face Of Brussels Horror, Airhostess Nidhi Chaphekar Returns To India

    The Face Of Brussels Horror, Airhostess Nidhi Chaphekar Returns To India
    Chaphekar has made significant recovery from her injuries sustained during the blasts at Brussels airport. She is in good spirits and very happy to be back with her family

    The Face Of Brussels Horror, Airhostess Nidhi Chaphekar Returns To India

    Indian-Origin Tock Broker Pranav Patel Charged In Alleged $131 Million Stock Market Scam

    The 35-year-old Patel was scheduled to appear later Wednesday in a federal court in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, for legal proceedings to bring him to Brooklyn for trial. 

    Indian-Origin Tock Broker Pranav Patel Charged In Alleged $131 Million Stock Market Scam

    Sacked Indian Techie Shreya Ukil Claims Sexual Harassment Lawsuit Win Against Wipro In Britain

    Sacked Indian Techie Shreya Ukil Claims Sexual Harassment Lawsuit Win Against Wipro In Britain
    Wipro, however, said the tribunal upheld the dismissal as appropriate and rejected claims of adverse cultural attitude towards women in the organisation.

    Sacked Indian Techie Shreya Ukil Claims Sexual Harassment Lawsuit Win Against Wipro In Britain