India’s Sports Authority of India (SAI) will train Srinivasa Gowda, the 28-year-old Kambala jockey from Karnataka, who became an instant social media sensation when he covered 145 meters in 13.62 seconds. Netizens in India started to call him 'India's Usain Bolt'. Many people including politicians and businessmen have praised him on various social media platforms and finally, his talent got recognised.
Kambala is an annual buffalo race held in the southwestern Indian state of Karnataka.
Gowda will reach SAI's Bangalore centre on Monday (17) where he will get proper training.
“We have reached out to #SrinivasaGowda and booked his train ticket. He will be in SAI's Bangalore centre on Monday where our coaches will assess him. We hope to identify and nurture more talents with inputs from all sports enthusiasts,” tweeted SAI.
"People are comparing me to Usain Bolt. He is a world champion, I am only running in a slushy paddy field," he later told reporters.
Srinivasa, a construction worker, took just 9.55 seconds to cover a distance of 100 metres, faster than eight-time gold medallist Usain Bolt.
Bolt currently holds the world record in the 100-metre race at 9.58 seconds in 2009.
Mahindra Group Chairman Anand Mahindra and Politician Shashi Tharoor were quick to recognise his talent. They recommended the government to take a look at 'his skill'.
Finally, India's sports minister Kiren Rijiju took notice.
"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 are left out untested," he tweeted as reply to Mahindra.
Piyush Goyal and Jonathan Reynolds tour the Royal Opera House in London
