AGENCIES, Mangalore: Srinivasa Gowda, the Kambala (traditional buffalo race jockey), who shot to fame after videos of him on social media showing him running a distance of 145m in just 13.62 seconds at an event near Mangaluru went viral, has said he is not sure about the invite from Sports Authority of India (SAI) who want him to undergo trials on Monday.
After news about Gowda’s feat started trending on social media, Union sports minister Kiren Rijiju had invited him for the trials with SAI. Rijiju tweeted, “I’ll call Srinivasa Gowda for trials by top SAI coaches. There’s lack of knowledge in masses abt 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.” Rijiju was responding to a tweet from industrialist Anand Mahindra.
Yes @PMuralidharRao ji. Officials from SAI have contacted him. His rail ticket is done and he will reach SAI centre on monday. I will ensure top national coaches to conduct his trials properly. We are team @narendramodi ji and will do everything to identity sporting talents! https://t.co/RF7KMfIHAD
— Kiren Rijiju (@KirenRijiju) February 15, 2020
When contacted for a response, the construction worker from a village of Moodabidri in Karnataka said that track event is a totally different ball game and he was not sure he can make it big there. He would rather concentrate on the game he is familiar with, he added. Kambala is an ancient, traditional buffalo race in muddy or paddy fields of coastal regions of Karnataka. Meanwhile, Gowda, the kambala jockey has been compared to world record holder Usain Bolt after he finished 100 metres in 9.55 seconds went viral on social media.
