Close X
Sunday, September 22, 2024
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

    Girls Should Not Be Called 'Girls': UK Schools Told

    Girls Should Not Be Called 'Girls': UK Schools Told
    Leading single-sex private schools in the UK have been told not to use the words 'girls', 'young women' and 'young ladies' because they might offend pupils who are questioning their gender identity.

    Girls Should Not Be Called 'Girls': UK Schools Told

    India Always Tried To Maintain 'Hegemony' In South Asia: Pak

    India Always Tried To Maintain 'Hegemony' In South Asia: Pak
    Answering a question about Indo-Pak ties in an interview to Samaa TV, Mr Aziz said India has always tried to maintain its hegemony in the South Asia region.

    India Always Tried To Maintain 'Hegemony' In South Asia: Pak

    US Asks Nuke Club (NSG) To Support India's Membership At Key Meet In Seoul

    US Asks Nuke Club (NSG) To Support India's Membership At Key Meet In Seoul
    The US today asked the members of the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) to consider and support India's application to join the grouping during their plenary meeting in Seoul beginning tomorrow.

    US Asks Nuke Club (NSG) To Support India's Membership At Key Meet In Seoul

    No Nation Can Fulfil Potential If Religious Freedom Denied: US

    No Nation Can Fulfil Potential If Religious Freedom Denied: US
    No nation can fulfil its potential if people are denied the right to practice freedom of religion, a top US official has said while underlining that upholding religious freedom remains a top priority for the Barack Obama administration.

    No Nation Can Fulfil Potential If Religious Freedom Denied: US

    Without Identity: Hindu Migrants From Pakistan Live On Hope

    Without Identity: Hindu Migrants From Pakistan Live On Hope
    In a settlement of 30 rickety huts near Majnu ka Tilla in north Delhi, Hindu refugees from Pakistan are waiting for a change. And that change is possible when they receive the Aadhaar cards as has been promised by the Narendra Modi government.

    Without Identity: Hindu Migrants From Pakistan Live On Hope

    UK Man Arrested At Rally Planned To Kill Trump, Agents Say

    UK Man Arrested At Rally Planned To Kill Trump, Agents Say
    Michael Steven Sandford, 20, approached an officer at the campaign stop last weekend to say he wanted Trump's autograph but then tried to take the weapon, U.S. Secret Service agents said.

    UK Man Arrested At Rally Planned To Kill Trump, Agents Say