KARNATAKA: A Karnataka villager and Kambala jockey shot to spotlight overnight as he is speculated to have broken Jamaica’s Usain Bolt’s world record of sprinting 100 metres in 9.58 seconds. 28-year-old Srinivasa Gowda, hailing from Moodabidri in Dakshina Kannada district covered 142.5 metres in just 13.62 seconds in the traditional buffalo race of Karnataka. Gowda’s swift sprint makes him the fastest runner in the history of the traditional sport breaking a 30-year-old record.
Gowda sprints 100m in 9.55 seconds
Gowda’s sprint has been compared with Usain Bolt’s world record. Gowda ran 142.50 meters in 13.62 seconds, people simply calculated what his speed would have been for 100 metres which turns out to be just 9.55 seconds that is .03 seconds faster than Bolt’s world record. However, the records cannot be compared directly as Bolt ran on a flat track while Gowda sprinted in a slushy field, which can be a speed deterrent. Also, the 28-year-old ran alongside a pair of buffaloes and his speed was amplified by the speed generated by the animals.
Speaking to media after achieving the remarkable feat, Gowda said that he loves Kambala and attributed the credit of his success to his buffaloes. They ran very well while I chased or drove them, he added. Gowda’s super sprint left netizens awestruck as some even suggested that he should train for Olympics.
Kambala Race
Kambala is an annual buffalo race held in Karnatak between November and March. It is a traditional and entertaining sport where buffaloes are driven by a whip-lashing farmer in a slushy paddy field. The annual event draws large crowds and even the participants train hard with some building exclusive pools for the buffaloes to train in.
