A man from Karnataka set a new record as the fastest runner in the country after a stunning performance at Kambala – a traditional buffalo race. 28-year-old buffalo racer Srinivasa Gowda, took just 13.62 seconds to cover 142.50 meters; breaking the previous record in the sport, which dates back to the early 1990s. This fascinating game of Kambala is exclusively played near Mangaluru and the southern coastal regions of the Karnataka.
According to locals “Kambala” or Buffalo race, is competed over a slushy paddy field and Gowda took only 13.62 seconds to cover 142.50 meters. But the most astonishing fact is that he ran 100 meters in just 9.55 seconds. To put that in perspective, Usain Bolt, the world’s fastest man took 9.58 seconds to complete a 100 meters’ race!
He is Srinivasa Gowda (28) from Moodabidri in Dakshina Kannada district. Ran 142.5 meters in just 13.62 seconds at a "Kambala" or Buffalo race in a slushy paddy field. 100 meters in JUST 9.55 seconds! @usainbolt took 9.58 seconds to cover 100 meters. #Karnataka pic.twitter.com/DQqzDsnwIP
— DP SATISH (@dp_satish) February 13, 2020
The referee of the race Vijay Kumar Kanginamane, said that Gowda is currently on a record-breaking run in the current Kambala season; taking the podium on 12 occasions while bagging 29 prizes.
A construction labourer during off-season, Gowda who happens to be a school dropout, stated that he was thrilled to watch the sport as a child and began practising 5-6 years ago. When asked about the record, he announced that the credit goes to his buffaloes.
“I love Kambala. The credit of my success should also go to my two buffalos. They ran very well. I chased them or drove them.”
This season, Gowda has been jockeying three pairs of buffaloes which are owned by Bada Poojary of Iruvail, Mizar’s Shakti Prasad, and Harshavardhan from Poojary. The champion jockey also mentioned that he started training the buffaloes for this grand event four weeks before the start of this year’s Kambala season.
The participants usually receive an amount of Rs 1-2 lakh to train buffaloes and take part in competitions for a season; while the owners also reward them with cash prizes should their buffaloes win any contests.
But the sport found itself in attention after it was banned when animal rights activists pressured for its prohibition as the race involves the runners whipping the buffalo to make them speed up. The Chief Minister of Karnataka Siddaramaiah however, passed a special legislation to allow the race.
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