K'taka man's 100m dash in water-filled 'Kambala' field wows Twitterati

A Karnataka villager has wowed the social media and is in spotlight overnight for just taking 9.55 seconds to run a distance of 100 metres. The 28-year-old man, identified as Srinivasa Gowda hails from Moodabidri in Dakshina Kannada district and he covered 142.5 metres in just 13.62 seconds in the traditional buffalo race 'Kambala' of Karnataka.

Moodabidri (Karnataka): A video clip of a Karnataka villager who took just 9.55 seconds to run a distance of 100 metres has wowed the social media.

The 28-year-old man, identified as Srinivasa Gowda hails from Moodabidri in Dakshina Kannada district, covered 142.5 metres in just 13.62 seconds in the traditional buffalo race 'Kambala' of Karnataka.

Seeing Gowda's sprint, netizens started drawing a comparison between Jamaica's Usain Bolt's world record of sprinting 100 metres in 9.58 seconds.

A Twitter post by a user went viral when he pointed out that the man's timing was faster than international athlete Usain Bolt, who currently holds the world record in the 100-meter race at 9.58 seconds.

The post caption read: "He is Srinivasa Gowda (28) from Moodabidri in Dakshina Kannada district. Ran 142.5 metres in just 13.62 seconds at a 'Kambala' or buffalo race in a slushy paddy field. 100 metres in JUST 9.55 seconds! @usainbolt took 9.58 seconds to cover 100 metres. #Karnataka."

Speaking to ETV Bharat after achieving the remarkable feat, Gowda said that as he was running alongside a pair of buffaloes, it was because of them that his speed was amplified.

He said, "I am delighted as they say I ran like Usain Bolt. I would say, my buffaloes ran fast and I just ran behind them. Bolt ran in the field but I ran in slush field. I don't think it could be compared, he is an international athlete running in track but I run in Kambala tracks of 'Karavali' (coastal) region."

"I am not sure if I can run in the field nor Bolt can run in this slush field" he added.

Kambala is an annual buffalo race held in the coastal region of Karnataka where buffaloes are driven by a whip-lashing farmer in a slushy paddy field.

He has bagged 29 prizes in the 12 Kambalas during the current season and works as a construction labourer in the off-season.

Traditionally, it is sponsored by local Tuluva landlords and households in erstwhile South Canara region consisting the coastal districts of Dakshina Kannada and Udupi in Karnataka and Kasaragod district of Kerala.

The annual event draws large crowds and even the participants train hard with some building exclusive pools for the buffaloes to train in.

As one can observe from the viral picture, the Karnataka man is running alongside a pair of buffalo in a field filled with water, social media users hailed Srinivasa including Kiren Rijiju, Shashi Tharoor, Anand Mahindra and more.

Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju tweeted, "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."

• 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 " class="align-text-top noRightClick twitterSection" data="

  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

  ">

  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

Congress leader Shashi Tharoor tweeted, "Faster Than Usain Bolt? Karnataka Man Running With Buffaloes Covers 100 Metres in Just 9.55 Seconds. I urge the Athletics Association of India to take this man under their wing & make an Olympic champion of him. Wonder how many hidden talents we have!"

• Faster Than Usain Bolt? Karnataka Man Running With Buffaloes Covers 100 Metres in Just 9.55 Seconds. I urge the Athletics Association of India to take this man under their wing & make an Olympic champion of him. Wonder how many hidden talents we have! https://t.co/G7jPE2zIng

  — Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) February 15, 2020 " class="align-text-top noRightClick twitterSection" data="

  Faster Than Usain Bolt? Karnataka Man Running With Buffaloes Covers 100 Metres in Just 9.55 Seconds. I urge the Athletics Association of India to take this man under their wing & make an Olympic champion of him. Wonder how many hidden talents we have! https://t.co/G7jPE2zIng

  — Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) February 15, 2020

  ">

  Faster Than Usain Bolt? Karnataka Man Running With Buffaloes Covers 100 Metres in Just 9.55 Seconds. I urge the Athletics Association of India to take this man under their wing & make an Olympic champion of him. Wonder how many hidden talents we have! https://t.co/G7jPE2zIng

  — Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) February 15, 2020

A post read: "That's super... If timing is accurate, then it's great discovery #Karnataka."

• Really we are proud of you, such hidden talents in our country, indian sports authority should train him. #Kannadiga #SrinivasaGowda pic.twitter.com/mxIyfB1dEK

  — Govind Naik Ranagal (@govindnaik15) February 15, 2020 " class="align-text-top noRightClick twitterSection" data="

  Really we are proud of you, such hidden talents in our country, indian sports authority should train him. #Kannadiga #SrinivasaGowda pic.twitter.com/mxIyfB1dEK

  — Govind Naik Ranagal (@govindnaik15) February 15, 2020

  ">

  Really we are proud of you, such hidden talents in our country, indian sports authority should train him. #Kannadiga #SrinivasaGowda pic.twitter.com/mxIyfB1dEK

  — Govind Naik Ranagal (@govindnaik15) February 15, 2020

"OMG. Is it real? Indian government needs to look into this man's speed. Can you reach out to the Sports Authority of India or the Sports Ministry?" asked a user.

"This guy will surely get us a gold medal at the Olympics!" another user remarked. ( With IANS inputs)