NEW DELHI: The Just Stop Oil protesters yet again caused a disruption in a sporting event, this time at Wimbledon, briefly halting the Grigor Dimitrov versus Sho Shimabukuro match on Court 18 on Wednesday.
Amid tight security, two protesters managed to sneak in and ran on the court, sprinkling ticker-tape mixed with jigsaw puzzle pieces rather than their trademark paint dust.
Later, on the same show court which is overlooked by a terrace used by television broadcasters, the match between Britain's Katie Boulter and Australian Daria Saville was also briefly halted by a similar incident.
This time one protester sprinkled ticker-tape on the court before being dragged away by three security staff.
Last week, the protestors disrupted the second Ashes Test at Lord's, attempting to spread orange powder on the wicket.
In the first incident, one of the protesters covered the court quite liberally while the other one aimed mainly wide of the tramlines.
Security staff quickly removed the individuals, one of whom sat down cross-legged on the turf. Neither resisted.
The crowd booed the protesters with some heard shouting "Get Off". Ground staff then swept the glitter off the court and there appeared to be no damage.
(AP Photo)
Shortly after the protest, rain returned and the covers were dragged across the court.
Security had been beefed up for the grasscourt Grand Slam, one of the jewels of the British sporting summer, after a spate of protests at high-level events in Britain.
(AP Photo)
The environmental group also intervened in this year's Premiership Rugby final and the World Snooker Championship in Sheffield where they smeared orange powder over a table.
This year's Grand National horse race was also disrupted after animal rights activists attached themselves to fences.
(With inputs from Reuters)
