In a remarkable story of instinct and endurance, a one-year-old pigeon named Abhimanyu stunned pigeon racing enthusiasts by flying 1,790 km from Delhi to Mandya in just 52 days, earning a record in the regional circuit.
Belonging to Sridhar of VC Farm, Mandya, Abhimanyu was the youngest of 22 pigeons released on April 5 for a Delhi-to-Karnataka race organized by the Karnataka Homing Pigeon Federation. He completed his journey home on May 28, crossing multiple states and tough terrains.
Though 14 birds returned, Abhimanyu’s age and inexperience made his success exceptional. This was his first-ever race.
“This journey is beyond our expectations,” said Sridhar, emotional over the bird’s return. “It’s a testament to his training and remarkable natural instinct.”
The feat has drawn admiration from bird trainers and racing circles nationwide. Experts call it extremely rare for such a young bird to complete a debut race of this magnitude.
With pigeon racing gaining momentum in Mandya and crores being invested in the sport, Abhimanyu has soared into national attention as a symbol of loyalty, resilience, and homing instinct.
He is now officially the youngest pigeon in Indian racing history to cover such a distance — redefining limits in the sport.