Monday, December 22, 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

    UK Newspaper Takes Stand On ‘Hindu Nationalism’, To Use Bombay, Not Mumbai

    UK Newspaper Takes Stand On ‘Hindu Nationalism’, To Use Bombay, Not Mumbai
    The city's name was officially changed to Mumbai in 1995 to distance itself from the colonial term - Bombay.

    UK Newspaper Takes Stand On ‘Hindu Nationalism’, To Use Bombay, Not Mumbai

    Pandit Jasraj Honoured In Houston

    Pandit Jasraj Honoured In Houston
    Pandit Jasraj has been honoured in Houston for his lifelong contribution to classical Indian art. He is happy that he is able to popularise Hindustani music in the US.

    Pandit Jasraj Honoured In Houston

    Indian-Origin Diplomat Harinder Sidhu Australia's New Envoy To India

    Indian-Origin Diplomat Harinder Sidhu Australia's New Envoy To India
    She is the third Indian-origin envoy in India, after the US and Canadian envoys and the second Indian-origin Australian high commissioner in India.

    Indian-Origin Diplomat Harinder Sidhu Australia's New Envoy To India

    Pervez Musharraf In ICU After High Blood Pressure

    Pervez Musharraf In ICU After High Blood Pressure
    Former President of Pakistan and chief of All Pakistan Muslim League, Pervez Musharraf was on Thursday admitted to hospital after he fainted at his home.

    Pervez Musharraf In ICU After High Blood Pressure

    Indian Lawyer Abhinav Bhushan Named South Asia Regional Director At International Arbitration Court

    Indian Lawyer Abhinav Bhushan Named South Asia Regional Director At International Arbitration Court
    The first Indian to be appointed as deputy counsel of the ICC earlier, Bhushan “will be based in its Asia offices in Singapore and will take on part of the role of the outgoing regional director, Sylvia Tee”

    Indian Lawyer Abhinav Bhushan Named South Asia Regional Director At International Arbitration Court

    Four Indian Americans Selected To US National Academy Of Engineering

    Four Indian Americans Selected To US National Academy Of Engineering
    Four Indian American engineers are among 80 new members selected to the prestigious US National Academy of Engineering (NAE) for their valuable contributions to the society.

    Four Indian Americans Selected To US National Academy Of Engineering