Rons Bantwal
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (RJP)

Mangaluru, Oct 1: King of Kambala world Payyottu Sadashiva A Salian, owner of the famous Nagaraj buffalo, passed away due to cardiac arrest on Thursday October 1. He was 62.

Salian was admitted to KMC hospital in the city a week ago. He is survived by wife and two daughters. The last rites will take place at his native Payyottu near Mulky on Friday October 2.

Payyottu family has been involved in ten Kambala sports for the past five decades. Payyottu Sadashiva Salian was the owner of ‘Nagaraja’ a buffalo that became a legend in the Kambala scene of Dakshina Kannada for almost two decades. It had won more than 115 gold and silver medals in 150 events. It had participated from its age 4 to the age of 20 till its death in 2009 and had created sensation in Kambala sports. The buffalo earned the titles of 'Hatrick Hero' and 'Kambla Karna' for its expoits in Kambala fields across the state.

Salian was the son of Anthayya Salian and Venkamma from Payyottu near Mulky. Sadashiva Salian had been conferred with the state Rajyotsava Award in 2013 for sports. 

Salian was the president of Mulky block Congress. He was the general secretary of district Kambala commitee and the honourary president of Mulky richshaw union. He was an active member of Billava association and a social worker all his life.

Jagannatha A Kotian, former director of Bharath co-operative bank in Mumbai and also the brother-in-law of the deceased has offered his condolences on the death of Salian. Jaya C Suvarna, president of Rashtriya Billava association and the executive chairman of Bharath Bank, other office-bearers of Bharath Bank, member of parliament Nalin Kumar Kateel, Minister Abhayachandra Jain and many others expressed condolences to the bereaved family.