Mangaluru, Oct 1, 2015 : Payyottu Sadashiva A Salian considered the undisputed king of the Kambala sport and owner of Kambala buffalo Nagaraja, passed away at the KMC Hospital in Mangaluru following a cardiac arrest on October 1, Thursday. He was undergoing treatment in the hospital since the past one week. Salian is survived by his wife and two daughters.
Nagaraja owned by Salian had reigned supreme in the Kambala field of the district for nearly two decades by winning over 115 gold and silver medals in nearly 150 Kambala events. Nagaraja which entered the Kambala arena at the age of four shone like a star till his death.
He had even earned the titles Kambala Karna and Hatrick Hero. His owner Sadashiva Salian was also the recipient of the Karnataka Rajyotsava Award for the year 2013. Salian was the President of Mulki Block Congress.