Biographical Facts - P.T. Usha

 

Biographical Facts on P.T. Usha

• v  Pilavullakandi Thekkeparambil Usha
• v  P.T. Usha was born on 27th June 1964 into a poor household in Calicut, Kerala, in the small town of Payyoli.
• v  O. M. Nambiar, an athletic coach, first noticed her in 1976 at a sports price distribution ceremony.
• v  She was raised in severe poverty and struggled with several health issues. Her extraordinary commitment to sports and athletics earned her the nickname “Payyoli Express,” which translates as “Queen of Indian Track & Field” in English.
• v  She was nominated as a Rajya Sabha MP in 2022 by the central government.
• v  Her time (55.42 seconds) was a new national record that stands to date. 
• v  Overall, Usha won 23 medals in the Asian track and field events from the 1980s; 14 were gold.
• v  PT Usha’s greatest moment on track and her biggest heartbreak came when she missed out on a Bronze Medal by 1/100th of a second in the 400-meter hurdles at the Los Angeles Olympics in 1984.
• v  Received the "Best Athlete in Asia Award" five times in 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987 and 1989
• v  At the 1985 Asian Meet in Jakarta, Usha’s arch rival at the time, Lydia de Vega as well as her father continuously complained about the Indian sprinter after every race, suspicious of her wins. Even though Usha was subjected to dope tests after each race, she won five golds and a bronze.
• v  After retirement from competitive sport, India’s first sportswoman to enter an Olympic final, opened the Usha School of Athletics – a nonprofit organisation that trains future athletes.