Srinivas Gowda has created sensation on social media after he ran at the Kambala racer on February 1. A traditional race in which the jockey runs along with the buffaloes he is shepherding — covered 142.5 m in 13.62 seconds at the Aikala-Bava kambala near Moodbidri. Gowda has been receiving praises from everyone for this feat.
If we convert it into 100m sprint, sports buffs said the Kambala runner had clocked 9.55 seconds, just a wee bit ahead of Jamaican Usain Bolt’s world record of 9.58 seconds! Yes, you read that right.
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Gowda has been a Kambala jockey for more than a decade and trained at the Kambala Academy in Moodbidri in 2011. The 28-year-old works as a construction worker off season, Mr. Gowda said he starts training the buffaloes four weeks before the Kambala season. Without any formal physical training, he has exhibited supreme endurance. Sources said jockeys like Mr. Gowda are paid ₹1 lakh-₹2 lakh by owners for a season to train the buffaloes, besides sharing cash prizes they win in Kambalas.
After the event video went viral people started asking government to facilitate Gowda training and assessment so that he can win medals for India at international level. Mahindra group chairman Anand Mahindra also tweeted in support of Gowda,
Just one look at his physique & you know this man is capable of extraordinary athletic feats. Now either @KirenRijiju provides him training as a 100m sprinter or we get Kambala to become an Olympic event. Either way, we want a gold medal for Srinivasa! 😊 https://t.co/H3SBiOVSKr
— anand mahindra (@anandmahindra) February 15, 2020
Soon Minister of State of the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Kiren Rijju promised to support Gowda.
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I’ll call Karnataka’s Srinivasa Gowda for trials by top SAI Coaches. There’s lack of knowledge in masses about the standards of Olympics especially in athletics where ultimate human strength & endurance are surpassed. I’ll ensure that no talents in India is left out untested. https://t.co/ohCLQ1YNK0
— Kiren Rijiju (@KirenRijiju) February 15, 2020
Sports Authority of India took to Twitter to reveal train tickets for Srinivas Gowda have been booked and he will be assessed by SAI coaches in Bengaluru.
We have reached out to #SrinivasaGowda and booked his train ticket. He will be in SAI’s Bangalore center on Monday where our coaches will assess him. We hope to identify and nurture more talents with inputs from all sports enthusiasts.@anandmahindra @RijijuOffice @Media_SAI https://t.co/syA81HtoFN
— DG, SAI (@DGSAI) February 15, 2020
Radhakrishna Panga who is popular on Twitter as Atheist Krishna takes requests for alterations of photographs. The Photoshop wizard paid his tribute to the Indian ‘Usain Bolt’ by doing a magical photoshop.
Here is what Krishna tweeted:
Magical isn’t it?
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