Sunday, December 21, 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

    Texas Teacher Sent On Leave For Calling 12-Year-Old Muslim Student 'Terrorist'

    Texas Teacher Sent On Leave For Calling 12-Year-Old Muslim Student 'Terrorist'
    The staggering insult a Muslim 12-year-old says his teacher hurled at him in class - and now his family say she must be FIRED

    Texas Teacher Sent On Leave For Calling 12-Year-Old Muslim Student 'Terrorist'

    Like Emailing With Anne Frank: Syrians Head Online To Find Canadian Sponsors

    Like Emailing With Anne Frank: Syrians Head Online To Find Canadian Sponsors
    For nearly three years, his family had been in Jordan, among over half a million Syrians there crammed into apartments and camps. It was safer than sleeping in the bathtub in their house in Syria for protection from missiles, but they wanted out.

    Like Emailing With Anne Frank: Syrians Head Online To Find Canadian Sponsors

    Nova Scotia Premier Asks PM Trudeau For Funding For Trouble-Plagued Hospital

    HALIFAX — Nova Scotia's premier says he has asked Prime Minister Justin Trudeau for funding to replace Halifax's trouble-plagued Victoria General hospital.

    Nova Scotia Premier Asks PM Trudeau For Funding For Trouble-Plagued Hospital

    Modi Praises Indian Workers' Hard Work In Saudi Arabia

    Modi Praises Indian Workers' Hard Work In Saudi Arabia
    The large number of Indian blue collar workers in Saudi Arabia on Saturday came in for much appreciation from Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the hard work they have put in for the development of the Gulf kingdom.

    Modi Praises Indian Workers' Hard Work In Saudi Arabia

    Quebec Bill 74 Would Force Internet Firms To Block Access To Online Gaming Sites

    Quebec Bill 74 Would Force Internet Firms To Block Access To Online Gaming Sites
    Bill 74 includes a provision that seeks to force Internet service providers to block Quebecers' access to online gambling sites that aren't approved by the government.

    Quebec Bill 74 Would Force Internet Firms To Block Access To Online Gaming Sites

    Suspected MH 370 Debris Found On Mauritius Coast

    Suspected MH 370 Debris Found On Mauritius Coast
    A piece of debris thought to be from the Malaysian airliner that went missing more than two years ago over the Indian Ocean has been found in the island nation of Mauritius, media reported on Sunday.

    Suspected MH 370 Debris Found On Mauritius Coast