Claimed to break the world’s fastest athlete Usain Bolt, Karnataka’s Kambala jockey Srinivasa Gowda became an overnight star by finishing 100 metres in 9.55 seconds. All thanks to the social media, the Kambala sensation fell in the eyes of Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju who invited him to Bangalore to conduct trials. While the minister confirmed that the government booked a rail ticket for him, Srinivasa shocked everyone turning down Rijiju’s offer.
Speaking to The New Indian Express, Srinivasa said that he is not interested in athletics and will continue to focus on Kambala. Stating that he was truly overwhelmed with the unexpected attention he got from the traditional sport, the Kambala jockey thanked everyone. When asked about the reason behind him rejecting the offer, Srinivasa gave quite a convincing answer. “Heels play an important role in Kambala race whereas it is toes in a track race. Not just jockeys, but even buffaloes have a role to play in Kambala,” he said.
Srinivasa also revealed some interesting facts about his training and past life. “I’m happy with whatever I make out this sport. I have been trained since the age of 15 and have taken part in hundreds of buffalo races,” he said. However, Srinivasa said that he would each to Bengaluru and meet the Chief Minister.
