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MANGALURU: The Kambala Academy is contemplating training women in various aspects of Kambala- a buffalo race and a traditional male-dominant sport of Tulunadu. The academy after holding discussions with experts is hoping to train women as announcers, flag bearers as well as jockeys.

K Gunapala Kadamba, Kambala expert, founder secretary, Dakshina Kannada Kambala Committee and convener, Kambala Academy, told TOI that the training will be imparted through the Kambala academy. “Though the thought of training women in Kambala has been in my mind for a long, I got the confidence to take it forward after meeting filmmaker Rajendra Singh Babu who is working on a film based on Kambala. He told me that in case Kambala has to get international recognition, then women have to be given representation. Women have entered all fields be it Yakshagana, weightlifting, cricket, so why not Kambala? also agreeing that the challenges are many and such an experiment will invite criticism from certain quarters.

Women would be introduced to Kambala only after holding discussions with experts and taking into consideration various measures including safety, dress code and fitness test including a medical check-up. NIS coaches will train women. `Once this Kambala season ends, and before the commencement of the next season in November, we hope to train a few women tentatively between September and October this year. Interested women will have to undergo a selection process,’’ he said.

Meanwhile, the training for male jockeys will continue, he said, noting that the popularity of Kambala is only growing. At the recent Moodbidri Koti-Chennaya Jodukere Kambala, a record 207 pairs of buffaloes participated, Kadamba said.

Meanwhile, the film on Kambala is expected to be released in Tulu, Kannada and other South Indian languages. The director with the help of Arun Rai, businessman and producer is going through literature and is also attending Kambalas. The director is expected to attend the Puttur Kambala on March 12, to understand the sport better, Kadamba said.

The academy is also planning to set up a museum, library and a conference hall at Moodbidri.