Bull-taming is my long-time passion, says winner Ranjith

Bull-taming, which is known as jallikattu, the adventurous sport in Alanganallur and other rural pockets of Madurai, is a long-time passion for this 23-year-old Ranjith Kumar, the son of Alanganallur soil.

After having tamed 16 bulls in just a single round, Ranjith Kumar stole the show during the jallikattu conducted last Friday in the presence of C. Manickam, Retired Principal District Judge, Chairman of the Organising Committee formed as per the directive of the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court.

The jubilant tamer, who won a brand new car as the first prize at the end of the rural sport, said he had been dedicating his time since he was 18-years-old. At the valedictory function, Ranjith was awarded the coveted prize, much to his delight.

The ace tamer said he had been working in a timber depot at Alanganallur to make both ends meet. Apart from work hours, he would spend his time rearing bull and training it to compete in jallikattu. His skills were not confined to Alanganallur, which has made its presence felt on the global map for the sport of jallikattu, but to many places, including Palamedu and Avaniyapuram in Madurai, and other districts such as Erode, Sivagangai and Theni.

According to V. Balaji, vice-president, Alanganallur Jallikatti Vizha Kuzhu, this young tamer was among a batch of 75 tamers entered the arena at the final round to tame 16 bulls in just an hour’s time at the end.

In a very close, tight fight, another tamer Karthik bagged the second prize by taming 14 bulls. Additional time was allotted by the organising committee to finalise the winner during the event, which concluded at 5.10 pm. At the final round, nearly 90 bulls passed through the vadivasal.

Other tamers, who excelled in the sport, were showered with prizes like LED screens, refrigerator, washing machine, gold coins and two sovereign chains.

During the jallikattu last year in Alanganallur, Ranjith’s brother had topped the game and was awarded a car, he recalled.