Slush track stars recreate history in Bengaluru's inaugural Kambala

Bengaluru: The inaugural Bengaluru Kambala concluded in the early hours of Monday, featuring a thrilling display of buffalo races across six categories on the Raja-Maharaja kare (slush tracks).

Among the 159 participating pairs, 11 emerged victorious in various categories.

In the 'Kane Halage' category, where buffaloes must splash water on banners placed at heights of 6.5 and 7.5 meters, Bollamballi Chaitra Parameshwar Bhat's 'B' pair of buffaloes, ridden by jockey Ulluru Kandavara Ganesh, claimed victory by splashing water at a height of 6.5 meters. The winning pair, Appu and Kittu, gained fame for their appearance in Rishab Shetty's blockbuster film Kantara.

Bengaluru's SMS Family, with jockey Bhatkal Harish, secured the gold in the 'Adda Halage' category, while Bolar Trishal K Poojary's buffaloes, ridden by jockey Savya Gangayya Poojari, took the second position.

In the 'Hagga Hiriya' category, Nandalike Shrikanth Bhat's 'C' pair, guided by jockey Bambranabailu Vandit Shetty, claimed the gold, with Maala Anand Nilaya Shekhar A Shetty's pair and jockey Bhatkal Shankar Naik won silver.

The 'Hagga Kiriya' category witnessed Surathkal Panchajanya Yogish Kariya Poojari's pair of buffaloes, racing with Masthi Katte Swaroop, securing the gold. Nitte Parappadi Suresh Kotian's 'A' pair of buffaloes, with jockey Atturu Kodange Sudheer Salian, took the second position.

In the 'Negilu Hiriya' category, Bangadi Parambelu Narayana Male Kudiya's buffaloes, racing with jockey Sarapady Dhananjaya Gowda, clinched the gold, while Maala Anand Nilaya Shekhar A Shetty's pair, ridden by jockey Patte Gurucharan, secured the second position.

The final category, 'Negilu Kiriya', featuring 62 pairs of buffaloes, saw Jai Tulunadu Puttur Botyadi Kishore Bhandary's pair, guided by jockey Krithik Gowda, claiming the gold.

Yermal Pucchottubeedu Balachandra Shetty's buffaloes, racing with Byndoor Vivek Poojari, secured the second position.