Daijiworld Media Network - Mandya

Mandya, Aug 3: In an extraordinary feat that has left the pigeon racing community in awe, a one-year-old pigeon from Karnataka has achieved what few can—completing a grueling 1,790 km race from New Delhi to Mandya and emerging victorious.

The bird, named Abhimanyu, took part in its maiden professional race and returned home triumphantly on May 28, covering the distance in a little over seven weeks, excluding the dispatch and arrival days.

The race, held under the aegis of the Karnataka Homing Pigeon Federation, began on April 5 with the release of 22 elite pigeons from Delhi skies.

The participating birds, hailing from Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, were meticulously trained and fitted with identification rings for monitoring. Of these, only 14 successfully navigated their way back, making Abhimanyu’s achievement even more remarkable. Not only was he the youngest in the flock, but he also became the first to touch down in Mandya, claiming first place and widespread admiration.

Sridhar, the bird’s owner from V C Farm in Mandya, shared that the preparation for the race was a story of perseverance and discipline. Training began with short flights of just 5 km and was gradually scaled up through stages of 10, 15, and eventually up to 1,000 km.

Sridhar had placed his hopes on two pigeons—Abhimanyu and Punyakoti. While Abhimanyu completed the race with flying colours, Punyakoti has not yet returned.

Despite the absence of Punyakoti, Sridhar remains optimistic. He pointed out that there have been rare cases where pigeons have found their way back after years, and hopes that his missing flyer might also make an unexpected comeback someday.

Buoyed by Abhimanyu’s success, Sridhar is now preparing a new team of 21 pigeons for a major long-distance race scheduled for December.

Abhimanyu’s journey is not just a testament to nature’s marvels but also to the bond between man and bird, and the passion that fuels a unique sport rooted in patience, precision, and trust.