Over the last couple of days, Srinivasa Gowda's life has completely turned around. From being an unknown farmer, he became an overnight sensation and was hailed as India's Usain Bolt. So who is he? And how did it all happen.
It all started with a Tweet by Shashi Tharoor. Gowda was taking part in the traditional buffalo race called kambala in Karnataka when a video of his went viral thanks to Tharoor.?
"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," he had tweeted.?
Obviously people started to take notice and one person who responded promptly was our Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju. He noticed the talent and assured that top coaching would be provided to the man.?
"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," he said.?
The man himself however is very humble. He knows the reality of it and was quick to say he was nothing like Bolt.?
People are comparing me to Usain Bolt. He is a world champion, I am only running in a slushy paddy field," he told ANI.?
Just shows the attention has not gone into his head.?
But it appears he will not be taking part in the trials. As per a report in the Indian Express, said he is not interested in track racing and wants to focus on kambala instead.?
He maintained that he was excited by the attention he had received but he is not going to take part in the SAI trials. This was after Rijiju had invited him to try out. But Gowda was quick to point out it was not the same in kambala as it is in track racing.?
"In Kambala race, heels play an important role whereas it is toes in a track race. Not just jockeys, but even Buffaloes have a role to play in Kambala. In track race, this is not the case," he said.?
Gowda is 28 and has been racing on the slushy paddy fields since he was 15. The man had competed in hundreds of races and while he did not reveal how much he earns, he says it's enough. He went on to say that many sprinters tried their luck in kambala but tripped at the start of the race.?
Nonetheless, over the last two days, the man has been in the limelight. Before February 14, nobody knew who he was and now thanks to social media, the whole country knows who he is. Quite a turnaround for the man it has to be said and he has definitely earned it. ???