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P.T. Usha Biography: Records, Education, Medals, Age, family and other details

P.t. usha, a legendary former indian sprinter is set to become the first woman president of the indian olympic association (ioa). check p.t. usha's records, education, medals, age, family, and other details here. .

PT Usha Records:  The Legendary former Indian Sprinter PT Usha is set to become the first woman President of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA). She emerged as the lone candidate for the top post in IOA for the elections that are scheduled to be held on December 10, 2022. With this achievement, she will be the first Olympian and the first international medallist to head the association in its 95-year-old history.

Earlier on July 6, 2022, the Government of India had nominated the celebrated athlete PT Usha to the Rajya Sabha. Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated her via Twitter and highlighted her accomplishments in sports. He also noted that her work to mentor budding athletes over the last few years is also equally commendable.

PT Usha, since her retirement in 2000, has been a constant presence at the national track and field meets along with her trainees from the Usha School of Athletics based in Kinalur in Kerala’s Kozhikode. Tintu Luka, the current 800 meters national record holder as well as an Asian Games medalist, is the most famous product of Usha’s athletics school.

Congratulations to legendary Golden Girl, Smt. P T Usha on being elected as the President of Indian Olympic Association. I also congratulate all the sporting heroes of our country on becoming the office bearers of the prestigious IOA! Nation is proud of them ! pic.twitter.com/LSHHdmMy9H — Kiren Rijiju (@KirenRijiju) November 27, 2022

PT Usha Biography

PT Usha Early Life

Pt usha personal life, pt usha career.

P.T. Usha was first noticed by O.M. Nambiar, an athletics coach at a sports prize-distribution ceremony in 1977 and in the same he began coaching her. Quick results were followed after she won six medals at the inter-state meet for juniors, in Kollam in 1978. It included four gold medals in 100 m, 200 m, 60 m hurdles and high jump, silver in long jump, and bronze in 4x100 m relay.

PT Usha’s best moment came at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics. She entered on the back of a string of good performances at the year’s New Delhi inter-state meet and Mumbai Open National Championships. In the 1985 Jakarta Asian Championships, she won 6 medals- five Gold and one Bronze.

From 1983-89, PT Usha garnered 13 Gold Medals at ATF meets. In the 10th Asian Games held at Seoul, South Korea in 1986, PT Usha won 4 gold medals and 1 silver medal in the track and field events.

PT Usha Records

PT Usha Achievements

Pt usha medals.

PT Usha Awards and Honours

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• What is the full name of P.T. Usha? + The full name of P.T. Usha is Pilavullakandi Thekkeraparambil Usha.
• In which year PT Usha was awarded Padma Shri? + The Government of India awarded Padma Shri to P.T. Usha in 1985.
• How many medals are won by P.T. Usha in the Olympics? + P.T. Usha won four gold medals and one silver medal in the track and the field events.
• What are the nicknames of PT Usha? + PT Usha has two nicknames- Golden Girl and Payyoli Express.
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The Sports Legends

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Updated on September 3rd 2022, 6:57:30 pm

PT Usha biography, records and achievements

PT Usha is one of the foremost legendary feminine track and field athletes of all time. In this article, check out her biography, records and achievements.

PT Usha was born on June twenty seven, 1964, to a humble family within the city of Payyoli, in Calicut, Kerala, where she grew up to become one of the foremost legendary feminine track and field athletes of all time. Her full name is Pilavullakandi Thekkeparambil Usha. She didn't have a lucky upbringing and was affected by a variety of health issues likewise as extreme impoverishment. Her tremendous dedication to athletics and sports gained her the sobriquet 'Payyoli Express', which implies 'Queen of Indian Track and Field' in English. Pilavullakandi Thekkeparambil On June twenty seven, 1964, Usha was born into a low-income family in Payyoli village (near Calicut) within the state of Kerala. Usha's upbringing was marred by economic conditions and illness, which solely served to strengthen her. E.P.M. Paithal and T.V. Lakshmi have a female offspring named P.T. Usha. Shobha, Suma, and Pradeep are her sisters and brothers. She and V Srinivasan have been married since 1991. Ujjwal Srinivasan was born in 1992 to the couple, and he's their only son. Once she was an adolescent, she exhibited a powerful interest in sports that she pursued once earning associate Rs. 2 hundred fifty scholarships from the govt of Kerala. Following that, Usha traveled to Cannanore, where she registered in a sports college (Kannur). The woman with a great deal of speed created her skilled debut by competing within the National college Games, wherever she caught the eye of athletic coach O.M. Nambiar because of her spectacular performance on the sphere. The occasion well-tried to be a watershed moment in her life, as she discovered the right mentor for her distinctive skills. In successive years, Usha traveled to Moscow for the 1980 Olympiad, once she created history as the initial Indian lady to compete in the associated Olympic Games. In 1982, she went on to win a silver medal at the Asian Games, which were held in the national capital.

ACHIEVEMENTS

 PT Usha was awarded the mythical being Award and also the Padma Shri Award in 1983 and 1985, severally, in recognition of her outstanding contributions to the country's athletics community. In addition, the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) named her the Century's Best contestant and Millennium's Best contestant. In addition, she received the planet Trophy for Best contestant in 1985 and 1986 from the International Olympic Committee for her achievements in athletics.

At the 1982 New Delhi Asian Games, he took home silver medals within the a hundred m and two hundred m events. In 1985, he took home 5 gold medals within the Asian Games in the capital of Indonesia. In 1984, she became the primary Indian lady to qualify for the finals of AN Olympic event. Olympic Games in la. The Asian Track and Field Championships in Kuwait saw her win gold within the four hundred meters with a brand new Asian record, a primary for her.

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P. T. Usha Wiki, Height, Age, Husband, Family, Biography & More

P. T. Usha is an Indian athlete, who retired from all competitive athletic events in 2000. She is also known as Payyoli Express, Udanpari, Asian Sprint Queen, Running Machine, and Golden Girl of India.  [1] Google Books- Legendary Sports Personalities Reads Part 1 She is also a nominated member of the Rajya Sabha. In November 2022, she became the President of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA). [2] The Hindu

Wiki/Biography

P. T. Usha aka Pilavullakandi Thekkeraparambil Usha [3] Hindustan Times was born on Saturday, 27 June 1964 ( age 59 years; as of 2023 ) in Koothali, Kerala. She was brought up in Thikkoti, Kerala. Her zodiac sign is Cancer.

P. T. Usha’s childhood picture

From class 1 to class 7, she did her schooling at Trikottur AUP School in Kozhikode, Kerala. She then attended GVHSS (Sports) Kannur, Kerala. Later, she studied at Providence Women’s College, Kozhikode, Kerala. [4] Wikipedia- Providence Women’s College

P. T. Usha in her teens

Physical Appearance

Height (approx.): 5′ 7″

Hair Colour: Black

Eye Colour: Black

P. T. Usha belongs to a Malayali family. [5] The News Minute

Parents & Siblings

Her father, E.P.M. Paithal, was a cloth merchant, and her mother T. V. Lakshmi, worked as a teacher.

P. T. Usha with her father

P. T. Usha and her mother

She has one brother and four sisters. P. T. Usha is the second child of her parents. Her brother’s name is Praveen, and two of her sisters are Shobha and Suma.

P. T. Usha and her brother Pradeep

P. T. Usha with her sisters and mother

Husband & Children

On 25 April 1991, she got married to V Srinivasan, an inspector at the Central Industrial Security Force, who is also a former national kabaddi player.

P. T. Usha’s wedding picture

The couple has a son together named Dr Vignesh V Ujjwal, who is working as a sports medicine expert.

P. T. Usha with her mother, husband, and son

P. T. Usha’s signature

Journey of Becoming the Golden Girl of India

Since childhood, P. T. Usha was interested in sports and always loved to run and jump over the fences while playing with her siblings. While she was in school, her PT teacher asked her to participate in the school’s athletic competition.

The school ground where P. T. Usha used to practice in her childhood

She won the race competition against her senior from class 7, who was also a sub-district champion. She then performed in various athletic competitions in her school.

P. T. Usha (standing in the middle) on winning an athletic competition in her teens

In 1976, she was spotted by the Indian athletics coach O. M. Nambiar, who decided to train Usha professionally. In an interview, while sharing the memories, with Usha, Nambiar said,

I first saw Usha in 1976 during the Payyoli school annual sports meet where I was the guest to distribute the prize. What impressed me at first sight about Usha was her lean shape and fast walking style. I knew she could become a very good sprinter. She was different from others in the sports school and was very punctual. I lived near her house and therefore I had lots of time to train her. The results were quick.”

An old picture of P. T. Usha with her coach O. M. Nambiar

In the same year, the Kerala State Government started a sports school for women in Kannur, Kerala. Usha joined the school and started her professional training in athletics under her coach O. M. Nambiar. At that time, she was in class 8 and was among the first batch of the school. Considering her performance in athletics, the Kerala Government then awarded her a scholarship of Rs 250 pm. She came into the limelight with the National School Games (1979) in which she won the individual championship. In 1980, she participated in her first international tournament Pakistan Open National Meet at Karachi and bagged 4 gold medals for India. In 1982, she participated in World Junior Invitation Meet (now World Junior Athletics Championship) held in Seoul and won a gold medal in 200m and a bronze medal in 100m event.

P. T. Usha’s old photo from one of her track events

In 1984, she represented India at the Los Angeles Olympics. It was only 1/100th of a second by which she lost the 400 metres hurdle race for a bronze medal. The women’s 400m hurdle race was introduced for the first time at the Los Angeles Olympics (1984). The results were so close that even the announcer at the event said that P. T. Usha finished third. However, he later corrected himself and said that Usha finished fourth and missed by 1/100th of a second. Usha was disheartened after the results. She then received a message from the then Prime Minister of India Indira Gandhi, who motivated her to perform better. The message reads,

Usha, my daughter, you did very well for the country. Don’t worry, try harder next time, we are all with you.”

An old photo of P. T. Usha with Indira Gandhi

In an interview, while talking about not winning a medal in Olympics, Usha said,

I never wanted to be an Olympian. All I wanted was to keep breaking my own record. I never competed to defeat anybody.”

During an interview, when her coach Nambiar was asked about Usha’s struggles, he said,

At the 1978 Quilon nationals, she won five medals. That was the beginning and then there was no looking back. I was convinced of Usha’s potential. As she moved from school to college, my training for Usha continued making her win 14 out of the 15 gold medals in the Kerala state college sports meet. I always wanted her to move up the ladder of success because I knew she was a brilliant athlete. Therefore, from day one, my training techniques for her were accordingly. Whenever she was out of town in coaching camps and sports meets across the country, I had to virtually look her after like a father. I cooked food for her, especially when we were abroad. I wanted to ensure that she should not lose out due to lack of continuous training. I do not have any regrets that she could not win the prized medal in the Los Angeles Olympics. She almost won the medal. That was our saddest and glorious moment. I think she lost out because the race was called for a second start. She was moving ahead so well in the first start that, if not for the restart.”

She continued participating in various national and international athletic competitions like Seoul Asian Games, Seoul Olympics, and Beijing Asian Games.

P. T. Usha in one of her athletics event

In 1981, she was given a job as an assistant at the Indian Railways on sports quota. In 1992, post-pregnancy, she decided to take retirement from the sport, and it was her husband, who motivated her to continue participating in the sport.

An old photo of P. T. Usha with her son Vignesh

She then participated in various championships and won many medals for India. During an interview, she shared the struggles she faced in making a comeback in athletics. She said,

When I started again, nobody helped me. They tried to pull me down. The Indian altitude was — Usha is finished. When I went to practise here, people teased me, and they laughed. So I went to Patiala to train. There I found it much better. I had to lose a lot of weight — and I did.”

Her all-time personal bests are:

• 100 m: 11.39 (Jakarta 1985)
• 200 m: 23.05 (Lucknow 1999)
• 400 m: 51.61 (Canberra 1985)
• 400 m hurdles: 55.42 NR (Los Angeles 1984)

In 2000, she retired from all competitive athletic events and promised that she would open a school in Kerala which would provide a platform for budding athletes.

Usha School of Athletics

After almost two years of her retirement, she started her athletics training school Usha School of Athletics in Kerala. In an interview, while talking about her school, she said,

After many years of experience in athletics, I am convinced that what we lack in India is not talent, but basic, modern and scientific facilities. If we train our young Indian sports talents nothing, not even Olympic medals is unachievable. Everyone thinks that bagging an Olympic medal is a difficult task. It is not. I would have certainly made it to the Los Angeles Olympics if I had a little more exposure in the 400m hurdles. Considering my limited exposure, I did well as I had participated only in two races before I went to Los Angeles. It was my lack of experience in the 400m hurdles that cost me the gold medal. If India goes for a real, systematic and scientific approach, I am sure my country has a great athletic future.” P. T. Usha while practicing with her students

Member of the Rajya Sabha

On 6 July 2022, P. T. Usha was nominated to the Upper House by the former President of India Ram Nath Kovind . On 20 July 2022, she took an oath in Hindi as a member of the Rajya Sabha.

President of IOA

In November 2022, it was announced that P. T. Usha was elected as the President of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA), the highest governing body for the Olympic Movement and the Commonwealth Games in India. Earlier, while filing her nomination for the post, she said,

With the warm support of my fellow athletes and National Federations, I am humbled and honoured to accept and file for the nomination of the president of IOA!” [6] The Hindu

Controversy

Case filed against her for cheating and dishonesty.

In 2021, a case was filed by the Kozhikode Police in Kerala against P. T. Usha and six other members of a construction company under IPC Section 420 (cheating and dishonesty). The complaint was filed in the Vellayil Police Station by the former Indian athlete Jemma Joseph for cheating her. The complaint was then forwarded to the Kozhikode Police Chief AV George. Jemma had paid for the construction of her house, but it was not completed within the given time. Later, the case was forwarded to the Kerala Real Estate Regulatory Authority. [7] ABP Live While filing the complaint, Jemma said,

I paid Rs 46 lakh to Usha for an apartment and was promised that the construction will be completed within the given time. However, the apartment was not ready nor did the construction company was ready to give back the money. When I confronted the builders, the firm said PT Usha was accountable for paying back the sum but the former national athlete did not give back the money.”

• 1978: National Inter-State Meet held in Kollam, Kerala in 100 metres event
• 1979: XXV National Games in Hyderabad in 100 metres event
• 1983: Asian Championship held in Kuwait City, Kuwait in 400 metres event
• 1985: Asian Championship held in Jakarta, Indonesia in 100 metres event

P. T. Usha at the 1985 Jakarta Asian Championship

• 1985: Asian Championship held in Jakarta, Indonesia in 400 metres event
• 1985: Asian Championship held in Jakarta, Indonesia in 400 metres hurdles event
• 1985: Asian Championship held in Jakarta, Indonesia in 4×400 metres relay event
• 1986: Asian Games held in Seoul, South Korea in 200 metres event
• 1986: Asian Games held in Seoul, South Korea in 400 metres event
• 1986: Asian Games held in Seoul, South Korea in 400 metres hurdles event
• 1986: Asian Games held in Seoul, South Korea in 4×400 metres relay event
• 1987: Asian Championship held in Singapore in 400 metres event
• 1987: Asian Championship held in Singapore in 400 metres hurdles event
• 1987: Asian Championship held in Singapore in 4×400 metres relay event
• 1989: Asian Championship held in New Delhi, India in 100 metres event
• 1989: Asian Championship held in New Delhi, India in 200 metres event
• 1989: Asian Championship held in New Delhi, India in 400 metres hurdles event
• 1989: Asian Championship held in New Delhi, India in 4×400 metres relay event
• 1998: Asian Championship in Fukuoka, Japan in 4×100 metres relay event
• 1982: Asian Games held in New Delhi, India in 100 metres event
• 1982: Asian Games held in New Delhi, India in 200 metres event
• 1983: Asian Championship held in Kuwait City, Kuwait in 200 metres event
• 1986: Asian Games held in Seoul, South Korea in 100 metres event
• 1987: Asian Championship held in Singapore in 100 metres event
• 1987: Asian Championship held in Singapore in 4×100 metres relay event

P. T. Usha with her Asian Championship 1989 trophy

• 1989: Asian Championship held in New Delhi, India in 4×100 metres relay event
• 1990: Asian Games held in Beijing, China in 400 metres event
• 1990: Asian Games held in Beijing, China in 4×100 metres relay event
• 1990: Asian Games held in Beijing, China in 4×400 metres relay event
• 1994: Asian Games held in Hiroshima, Japan in 4×100 metres relay event
• 1985: Asian Championship held in Jakarta, Indonesia in 4×100 metres relay event
• 1998: Asian Championship in Fukuoka, Japan in 200 metres event

P. T. Usha at her home where a wall is dedicated to her awards and trophies

Other Notable Events

P. T. Usha in Moscow (1980)

• 1984: Finished 7 th in the Olympic Games held in Los Angeles, USA in 4×100 metres hurdles event
• 1985: Finished 5 th in the World Cup held in Canberra, Australia in 400 metres hurdles event
• 1985: Finished 8 th in the World Cup held in Canberra, Australia in 4×100 metres event
• 1988: Finished 7 th in the Olympic Games held in Seoul, South Korea in 400 metres hurdles  event

Note: She has won many more medals at various national and international events.

Asian Records

• 1984: 55.42 seconds record in 400 metres hurdles event in Olympic Games held in Los Angeles, USA
• 1985: 11.64 seconds record in 100 metres event in Asian Championship held in Jakarta, Indonesia
• 1985: 23.05 seconds record in 200 metres event in Asian Championship held in Jakarta, Indonesia
• 1985: 52.62 seconds in 400 metres event in Asian Championship held in Jakarta, Indonesia
• 1985: 51.61 record in 400 metres event in World Cup held in Canberra, Australia [8] Wikipedia- P. T. Usha

Asian Games Records

• 1986: 23.44 seconds record in 200 metres event in Asian Games held in Seoul, South Korea
• 1986: 52.16 seconds in 400 metres in Asian Games held in Seoul, South Korea
• 1986: 56.06 seconds in 400 metres hurdles in Asian Games held in Seoul, South Korea
• 1986: 3:34.58 time record in 4×400 metres relay event in Asian Games held in Seoul, South Korea [9] Wikipedia- P. T. Usha

National Records

• 1981: 11.8 seconds in the 100 metres and 24.6 seconds in the 200 metres events in the senior inter-state meet in Bangalore
• 1983: 23.9 seconds in 200 metres event in Open National Championships in Jamshedpur
• 1983: 53.6 seconds in 400 metres event in Open National Championships in Jamshedpur
• 1998: 44.43 seconds record in 4 x 100 metres relay event in Asian Championship held in Fukuoka, Japan [10] Wikipedia- P. T. Usha

Awards & Honours

• 1984: Padma Shri Award

P. T. Usha being honoured with the Arjuna Award

• 1984, 1985, 1987 and 1989: Best Athlete of Asia Award
• 1984 and 1986: World Trophy for The Best Athlete of Asia
• 1984, 1985, 1989 and 1990: Marshal Tito Award for The Best Railway Sportsperson in the Indian Railways

An old photo of P. T. Usha while receiving the Golden Show Award 1986

• 2000: Best Sportswoman of the Century by the Indian Olympic Association
• 2019: IAAF Veteran Pin Award
• 2000: Honorary doctorate (D.Litt.) conferred by Kannur University
• 2017: Honorary doctorate (D.Sc.) conferred by IIT Kanpur
• 2018: Honorary doctorate (D.Litt.) conferred by University of Calicut

P. T. Usha receiving honorary doctorate degree by Vinayaka Missions Research Foundation

• Cuisine: South Indian
• Singer: Mohammad Rafi

Facts/Trivia

• P. T. Usha was born into a poor family. In childhood, she fell ill after which she became very weak, and her family could not provide her with proper treatment. [11] India Times

My father used to come to the ground where I used to practice. He used to bring a stick to the field. Because when I used to go for a run in the early hours, many dogs used to come there. Sometimes she used to run on a dusty road along the railway line and used to race with the passing vehicles. PT Usha also loved running on the seashore. I loved to train by the sea. There were a variety of exercises that could be done. There was no side-to-side. You could also do uphill running and run downhill. As you wish.” An old photo of P. T. Usha while practicing with her coach

• P. T. Usha loves watching Hindi and Malayalam films and listening to songs.
• She follows a non-vegetarian diet. [12] YouTube- Prasar Bharati Archives

Golden Girl- The Autobiography of P. T. Usha

That food without any nutrition supplement had cost her the bronze. That definitely affected my performance in the last 35 metres of my event since I couldn’t sustain the energy level. We would jealously look at the athletes from other countries enjoying fabulous amenities; they had the latest equipment at their disposal. We wondered if we too would one day have access to such facilities.”

P. T. Usha road

Pilaullakandi means that there was a tree in the compound of my house which was not anywhere in the whole village. And Thekkeparambil means that my house was in the south direction of the tree which is there. That’s why I got the name PT Usha.”

P. T. Usha with her pet dogs

P. T. Usha with her car

Actually, since I did well in the last season I wanted to run in Asian track and field meet and the Sydney Olympics. I wanted to be in Asian track and field team and planned to announce my retirement after that meet. But now, after all the practice and competition, my knee is giving trouble. It got injured in 1995 and was operated upon once. I was under treatment, but I need at least 20 to 30 days for speed work, and three months more to get back into full form. The Asian track and field meet is starting on August 28, by which time I won’t be fully fit. After that there is no international meet, as the next one is only in 2002. I don’t want to continue till then.”

The team was picked by the Athletics Federation of India (AFI). I was not a part of the selection committee and I attended the meeting only as an observer. Even though Chitra had won the 1,500m gold in the recent Asian Athletics Championships, the AFI has the discretion to decide whether to include her or not in the squad.”

• She has been appointed as a member of the Board of Advisors of India’s International Movement to Unite Nations, Mumbai for the past few years. She is also appointed as the committee head of the Indian Talent organization at the National Level Indian Talent Olympiad.
• In 2020, she was nominated as the Dean, Faculty of Sports Science & Physical Education of Kannur University.

P.T. Usha by Kumkum Khanna

P. T. Usha featured on a magazine cover

• She has appeared in a few TV commercials for brands like Kanan Devan Tea and Raidco Curry Powder.

An old photo of P. T. Usha with PV Sindhu

• P. T. Usha briefly chaired the Rajya Sabha during the Motion of Thanks to the President on 8 February 2023.

"Great power involves great responsibility" as said by Franklin D. Roosevelt was felt by me when I chaired the Rajya Sabha session. I hope to create milestones as I undertake this journey with the trust and faith vested in me by my people. 🎥 @sansad_tv pic.twitter.com/bR8wKlOf21 — P.T. USHA (@PTUshaOfficial) February 9, 2023

References [+] [−]

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Through this write up we are tracing the profile, carrier and biography of Indian women athlete, P.T.Usha. P.T.Usha was known as the sprint queen.

PT Usha Profile

P. T. Usha - P T Usha was one of India's best-known women athletes. She remained the queen of track and field for almost two decades. P.T. Usha was fondly called the "Payyoli express" and the golden girl because of her awesome speed on the track.

Achievements And Accolades Through out her illustrious carrier, Usha won many national as well as international awards. PT Usha has won 33 international medals including 13 Gold medals in the Asian Games and Asian Championships. In all, Usha has won thirty International Awards, for her excellence in Athletics. P. T. Usha received the Arjuna Award in 1984. The next year she was adjudged the best women athlete the Jakarta Asian Athlete Meet. She was also awarded the Padma Shree in 1984. In the Seoul Asian games of 1986, Usha won the Adidas golden Shoe award for the best athlete. P. T. Usha was named the 'Sportsperson of the Century' by the Indian Olympic Association.

Turning Point As a child Usha showed an early aptitude for sports. This won her a scholarship of Rs. 250 from the Kerala government and led Usha to a special sports school at Cannore. In 1979 Usha participated in the National School Games. It was here that O. M. Nambiar (who coached her throughout most of her career) spotted her. He realized that this girl had a great potential. This proved the turning point of her illustrious carrier.

PT Usha Biography Payyoli Tevaraparampil Usha was born in a poor family in Meladi-Payyoli village, near Calicut (Kozhikode), Kerala on June 27, 1964 Kerala. Usha had to face ill health and poverty as a young girl. The initials in Usha's name stand for Payyoli Tevaraparampil, her family names, according to the traditional naming system in South India. Usha began her international carrier at the Moscow Olympics in 1980 but she proved her real mettle in the 1982 Asian Games in New Delhi, winning the silver in the 100 m and 200 m event. The Jakarta Asian Meet in 1985 Usha elevated her to the position of the sprint queen as she won five gold medals (in the 100m, 200m, 400m, 400m hurdles and the 4x400m relay) and a bronze in the 100m relay.

The Seoul Asian games proved an icing on cake of her athletics carrier, where Usha notched up four Gold medals and silver. In 1991, Usha married V. Srinivasan and gave birth to a son, Ujjwal. Later, P.T Usha started an athletics school at Koyilandi near Kozhikode, Kerala to impart training to girls from all over the country. This school recruits children in the 10-12 age group.

Ups And Downs The illustrious carrier of PT Usha speaks for itself. She has been the finest women athlete India has ever produced. Throughout her carrier Usha never looked back. In fact, at one point of time she returned back to track after a gap of 4 years and won a silver medal at the Hiroshima Asiad! But the greatest disappointment came at the Los Angeles Olympics, where Usha missed the bronze medal by just 1/100th of a second. This was a heart break for the whole country.

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(born 1964). Indian track-and-field athlete P.T. Usha was the first Indian woman to reach the final of an Olympic athletics event. At the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, California, she placed fourth in the 400-meter hurdles.

Pilavullakandi Thekkeparambil Usha was born on June 27, 1964, in the village of Payyoli in Kerala state, India. Her performance at India’s National School Games in 1979 attracted the attention of prominent athletics coach O.M. Nambiar, who thereafter helped guide her career. Usha competed at the 1980 Olympic Games in Moscow, U.S.S.R. (now Moscow, Russia), and two years later, at the Asian Games in New Delhi, India, where she claimed silver medals in the 100- and 200-meter sprints. She narrowly lost the bronze medal in the 400-meter hurdles at the 1984 Olympics, missing out on third place by one hundredth of a second.

At the 1986 Asian Games in Seoul, South Korea, Usha won gold medals in the 200 meters, 400 meters, 400-meter hurdles, and the 4 × 400-meter relay as well as a silver medal in the 100-meter sprint. She also participated in the 1988 Olympics in Seoul and the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia. At the 1998 Asian Championships in Fukuoka, Japan, Usha won a gold medal in the 4 × 100-meter relay, a silver medal in the 4 × 400-meter relay, and bronze medals in the 200- and 400-meter races.

After retiring in 1999, Usha founded a sports academy, the Usha School of Athletics, near Kozhikode, India. She was awarded the Padma Shri, one of India’s highest civilian honors, in 1985.

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P. T. Usha Profile

• Won silver medals in the 100 m and the 200 m events in the 1982 New Delhi Asiad
• Won gold in the 400 m with a new Asian record in the Asian Track and Field Championship in Kuwait
• Became the first Indian women to enter the final of an Olympics event in 1984 Los Angeles Olympics
• Won five gold medals at the Asian Meet in Jakarta in 1985

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As PT Usha turns 54, 10 facts about the golden girl of Indian athletics

It’s pt usha’s birthday today. and what better time to revisit those golden memories when the payyoli express did india proud with her many achievements on the track..

Thursday June 27, 2019 , 4 min Read

PT Usha. Pic credit - PT Usha official Facebook page

The name PT Usha brings up many memories and a surge of pride among Indians. Pilavullakandi Thekkeparambil Usha, or PT Usha as she was fondly called, was the toast of Indian athletics throughout the 70s, 80s, and 90s.

Who can forget her spectacular performance in the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics where she became the first Indian to reach the finals of the 400m hurdles, but lost the bronze by one-hundredth of a second?

This was a stupendous achievement for an Indian, and a woman, at that time and many newborns were named after her in the country.

However, Usha’s life has been one of struggle. Hailing from a small village, Payyoli, in Kerala’s Kozhikode district, she had to battle constant sickness as a child, and later stereotypes as she moved to the world stage. Her coach, OM Nambiar , has been instrumental in Usha’s rise to success, and whom she credits for her tenacity on the track.

On PT Usha’s 54th birthday today, we pay tribute to the woman and athlete who has done us all proud with her numerous achievements and continues to inspire and train athletes at Usha School in Kozhikode , Kerala.

Here are 10 ways in which the athlete inspires us with her life story and mission.

• Usha is a girl from a small town, but with big dreams. Though troubled by illnesses as a child, she was first noticed in school when she was in Class IV and asked to run with the school champion (who was in Grade VII). She came first, and the rest - as they say - is history.
• Her parents, Paithel and Lakshmi, had no idea of athletics. It was her uncle who asked to keenly pursue the sport. The idea was that she could then get a job as a sports instructor. But the girl just ran and ran her way into the record books. In 1980, she participated in the National Pakistan Games at Karachi where she won the 100m and 200m. By then, OM Nambiar had spotter her talent and took on the role of a personal coach.
• She entered the Moscow Olympics as the youngest athlete. Though disappointment awaited her, she made up for the loss by bagging two silver medals at the Asiad held in New Delhi in 1982. Usha had arrived, and how!
• The 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles brought both heartbreak and recognition for the athlete. After racing through the semi-finals, Usha lost the bronze by one-hundredth of a second. This followed after one of her competitors had a false start, which was said to have “broken her rhythm” as she got off the blocks a bit slower.
• But the near-win at the Olympics catapulted Usha into the limelight. She was dubbed Payyoli Express and became famous overnight. A road in Kochi was named after her, and so were many newborns.
• Despite her disappointment, Usha was raring to go. She blazed a trail at the 1986 Asian Games at Seoul where she won 200m, 400m, 400m hurdles, and the 4x400m relay. It was a complete sweep, and proved that failure was indeed the stepping stone to success. The same happened at the 1985 Track and Field Championships in Jakarta.
• In 1991, she married N Srinivasan, a CISF inspector, and subsequently settled down to family life. The couple has a son, Ujjwal. By the end of her career, Usha had won 101 international medals. She is now employed as an officer in the Southern Railways.
• Not content with just family life and a 9-5 routine, Usha decided to venture into athletics again, though in a different direction. She started the Usha School of Athletics in Kozhikode district in Kerala, an organisation dedicated to advancing promotion and practice of sports with state-of-the-art facilities.
• Athlete Tintu Luka is a product of the Usha School of Athletics. She is the national record holder in the 800m, the Asian Games silver medallist at Incheon 2014, and the Asian champion in Wuhan China in 2015. She also won the gold medal at the Asian Athletics Championship in 2016.
• She has trained 90 girls so far, who have all trained under her watchful eyes and gained from her expertise. Usha’s goal is to produce an Olympian from her school. Rumour also has it Bollywood is producing a biopic on the athlete.

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Pilavullakandi Thekkeparambil Usha

Awards & Achievements

• Represented India at the Moscow Olympics in 1980
• Silver medals in 100m and 200m at the 1982 Asian Games , held in New Delhi
• Clinched a gold medal at the Asian Track and Field Championship (ATF) in 1983 
• 13 gold medals at the ATF meets , held in between 1983-89
• Five gold medals at the Asian track and field Championship of 1985 ( record )
• Entitled as the " Greatest Woman Athlete " at the Jakarta Asian Athlete meet , held in 1985
• Conferred with Indian sports honour " Arjuna Award " by the Government of India and the Indian civilian award " Padma Shri " in 1984
• Bestowed with the " Adidas Golden Shoe Award " at the Seoul Asian Games of 1986
• Twice won the World Trophy for the best athlete :   in 1985 and 1986
• One silver medal and four gold medals at the 10th Asian Games , held in 1986
• Silver medals in 400m and 4x100m relay at the Asian Games of 1990
• Silver medal in 4x400m relay at the Asian Games of 1994
• Bagged a gold medal in  4x100m relay at the Asian Athletics Championship in 1998
• Received the " Best Athlete in Asia Award " five times in 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987 and 1989

Fondly known as the " Golden Girl " as well as " Payyoli Express ", P.T. Usha is amongst India's most successful athletes. The lady with alacrity has ruled the running track for almost two decades, adding numerous accolades to her name and becoming an inspiration for every girl all around the globe. Usha has blown various competitions away. She has won a total of 30 international awards and 13 gold medals at the Asian Games and Asian Championships through her supersonic speed. The journey that started in 1979 , led this Indian girl to the peak of success, making her a living legend.

Pilavullakandi Thekkeraparambil Usha was born on 27th June 1964 in a low-income family at Payyoli village (near Calicut ) Kerala . During childhood, Usha faced poverty and illness that made her stronger. She showed deep interest in sports during her teenage, after receiving a scholarship of Rs. 250 from the Government of Kerala .   After that, Usha made her way to a sports school at Cannanore ( Kannur ). The girl with pace debuted her career by participating at the National School Games where she gained the attention of the athletic coach O.M. Nambiar through her performance. The event proved to be a revolutionizing phase as she found the right guidance for her talent. After getting prepared for the big move, Usha participated at the Moscow Olympics in 1980 as the first Indian woman to compete in the Olympics. She then clinched a silver medal at the Asian Games , held in New Delhi in 1982 . Post that feat, Usha never turned back.

P.T. Usha reached the peak of her success in the year 1985, earning  five gold medals in 100m , 200m , 400m , 400m hurdles and 4x400m relay and a bronze medal in 4x100m relay at the Asian meet, held in Jakarta .  At the Los Angeles Olympics , she was very close to clinch the bronze medal but failed to secure the same rank by 1/100th of a second which was a heartbreaking moment for her as well as for her admirers.

She was back with a bang, grabbing four gold medals and one silver medal at the 1986 Seoul Asian Games and earned the title of Asia’s " Sprint Queen" . In 1998 , her team had set a national record in 4x100m relay clocking 44.43 seconds , a record that still holds as of 2017 . Usha has started an athletic school at koyilandy , Kerala to train and encourage girls in athletics. Indeed, she is the queen of Track & Field and will always reign the heart of her followers as a " Queen ". 

Credits: YouTube

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About PT Usha, India's 'Golden Girl' who was so fast that she was nicknamed after a train

Pt usha was born in a village named payyoli, and went on to become our golden girl here are some facts about her..

Listen to Story

One of the most iconic women athletes of track and field, PT Usha was born on June 27, 1964, to a poor family living in a village named Payyoli near Calicut, Kerala. Her full name is Pilavullakandi Thekkeparambil Usha,

PT Usha did not have a privileged childhood and faced many health issues and much poverty. Her incredible drive for athletics and sports soon earned the "queen of Indian track and field" the nickname of 'Payyoli Express'.

Usha was associated with sports since the year 1976 when her aptitude and passion for sports led her to secure a Rs 250 scholarship from the Kerala state government and represent her district when it started a sports school for women in Cannore.

In the same year, things took a major turn when athletics coach OM Nambiar noticed the girl at an award ceremony for the National School Games where Usha had participated.

The coach was impressed with "her lean shape and fast walking style" as he told later in an Rediff.com interview and as he began coaching her, the rest is history.

Usha never looked back in her career and even when she took a break of four years, she returned to clinch the silver medal at the Hisroshima Asiad. Her greatest regret and disappointment has to be the Los Angeles Olympics where the Golden Girl missed the Bronze by just 1/100th of a second.

She has won as many as 101 international medals till now and is employed in the Southern Railways as an officer.

Usha currently also runs a school for athletics at Koyilandi near Kozhikode, Kerala, where girls in the age group of 10-12 are recruited and trained. Among them was Tintu Lukka, who had qualified at the London 2012 Olympics for the women's semi-final 800m event.

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PT Usha: India’s Golden Girl of Athletics

Having entered track and field athletics at the age of 16, she is credited with popularising the sport across india. though usha retired in the year 2000, her records remain unmatched till date. she stays connected with the field through her athletics training school..

Daughter of EPM Paithal and TV Lakshmi, Pilavullakandi Thekkeparambil Usha was born on June 27, 1964, in Koothali in Kozhikode, Kerala. She was brought up in Thrikottur, and later lived in Payyoli. During childhood, she witnessed poverty and battled ill health at various stages. Her fate changed in 1976 when the Kerala government began a women’s sports division in Kannur, where Usha began training under coach OM Nambiar.

Early Career

Young Usha was a quick learner. In 1978, she won six medals at the inter-state meet for juniors. In the same year, she won 14 medals at the Kerala State college meet. She won the individual championship in the 1979 National School Games. In 1980, she made her international debut in Karachi, at the Pakistan Open National Meet in which she won four gold medals. She made her Olympic debut in the 1980 Moscow Games, however, she finished a lowly fifth in the 100m race.

Winning Streak

Usha immediately made a comeback in 1982, during the World Junior Athletics Championship in Seoul, South Korea, where she won the 200m and secured a bronze in the 100m. Her most glorious performance occurred at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, where she won the 400m hurdles heats. She missed a chance to win India’s first track-and-field bronze in 400m hurdles by a mere 1/100th of a second. Her coach attributed to the second start that spoiled her rhythm.

Bouncing back at the 1985 Asian Championship in Jakarta, Usha won six medals to set a record for the most gold medals won at a single event in the championship. In the 1986 Asian Games, Seoul, she struck golds in the 200m, 400m and 4X400m relay, with new game records. She also settled for the 100m silver , having lost to arch rival Lydia de Vega.

Overcoming Injuries

Usha suffered from a heel injury during the 1988 Seoul Olympics. Despite the pain, she pushed herself to run but failed to make it to the final. She recovered and participated in the 1989 Asian Track and Field Meet where she won four golds. Usha wanted to retire the same year but decided to compete in the Beijing Asian Games where she won three medals. In 1991, she married V Srinivasan and the couple was blessed with a son in 1992. Usha returned to the track for the 1998 Asian Track and Field meet in Japan where she set a new national record in the 200m race (23.27s).

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. She has won the Arjuna Award (1983), the Padma Shri (1985) and was named Sportsperson of the Century as well as Sportswoman of the Millennium by the Indian Olympic Association. With 101 medals to her name, Usha’s legacy remains unmatched.

Interesting Facts:

1. Young PT Usha was a bright student during her school years, and her parents thought that she would become a teacher like her mother. Initially, her father was apprehensive of her taking up sports as he didn’t want her to get injured and knew very little about the world of sports.

2. In 1983, when PT Usha requested that OM Nambiar be her coach, the government approved her request. As a result, she became India’s first athlete to have a personal coach. Nambiar was always proud of Usha’s potential and performance, and credits his own popularity to the athlete.

3. AK Kutty, who coached athlete MD Valsamma, made a statement that if Valsamma had trained on a synthetic track, she would have beaten Usha. The latter took this as a challenge, she kept the media clipping under her pillow and used it to motivate herself before the 1984 Olympics.

4. 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.

5. PT Usha’s record as an athlete remains unmatched even till date. Due to her performance and contribution to track and field, she has been given several nicknames over the years including Payyoli Express and Golden Girl, as well as the title ‘Queen of Indian track and field’

Sources: ptusha.org, IAAF.org & media reports

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Category: Sports & Games

P. T. Usha Profile

• Other Name:
• Pilavullakandi Thekkeparambil Usha
• June 27, 1964
• Born / Home Town:
• Profession / Known For:
• V. Srinivasan

Arjuna Award by Government of India in 1984

Padma Shri Award by Government of India in 1984

Greatest Woman Athlete Award in 1985 in Jakarta Asian Athletic Meet

Best Athlete in Asia Award in 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987 and 1989

World Trophy for Best Athlete in 1985 and 1986

Adidas Golden Shoe Award for the Best Athlete in 1986 Seoul Asian Games

Kerala Sports Journalists Award in 1999

Thirty International Awards for Excellence in Athletics

• Achievements:

Gold medal in 200 m in Asian Games held at Seoul in 1986

Gold medal in 400 m in Asian Games held at Seoul in 1986

Gold medal in 400 m hurdles in Asian Games held at Seoul in 1986

Gold medal in 400*4 m relay in Asian Games held at Seoul in 1986

Silver medal in 100 m in Asian Games held at New Delhi in 1982

Silver medal in 200 m in Asian Games held at New Delhi in 1982

Silver medal in 100 m in Asian Games held at Seoul in 1986

Silver medal in 400 m in Asian Games held at Beijing in 1990

Silver medal in 400*4 m in Asian Games held at Beijing in 1990

Silver medal in 400*4 m in Asian Games held at Hiroshima in 1994

P. T. Usha Biography

P. T. Usha is an Indian athlete from Kerala and her full name is Pilavullakandi Thekkeparambil Usha. She was one of the greatest athletes of India and hence is affectionately call the Queen of the Indian Track and Field. She is running the Usha School of Atheletics at Koyilandy in Kerala.

P.T. Usha was born on 27 th June 1964 in the village of Payyoli in Kozhikode district of Kerala. Her father’s name is Paithal and her mother’s name is Lakshmi. She married V. Srinivasan and has a son named Ujjwal. She was coached by O.M. Nambiar who found out the talents in her when she participated in the National School Games in 1979. She represented India in 1980 Moscow Olympics.

In the New Delhi Asiad in 1982, she got silver medal in the 100 meter and 200 meter running and in the Asian Track and Field Championship held at Kuwait in 1983, she won gold medal in 400 meters with new Asian record. Since then she has bagged 13 gold medals at the ATF meets.

She represented India in the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics and became the first Indian woman to reach the finals in the Olympic event. She won 4 gold medals and one silver medal in the track and field events at the 10 th Asian Games held at Seoul in 1986. She also won five gold medals at the sixth Asian Track and Field Championship held at Jakarta in 1985. Six medals in the same meet by a single athlete was a new record of that time.

She has totally won 101 international medals. She is employed as the officer of the Southern Railways. She was given the prestigious Padma Shri award and Arjuna Award by the government of India in recognition of her talents in 1985.

She got 5 gold medals in 100 m, 200 m, 400 m sprints and 400 m hurdles and 4*400 m relay in the 1985 Asian Track and Field Meet at Jakarta and earned a bronze medal in the relay. She participated in all the Olympic Games from 1980 to 1996 except in the 1992 Barcelona Olympics. She participated in the 1982 Delhi Asiad and won the first medal of the games. Atlanta Olympics 1996 was her last Olympics participation.

Published: N/A

Updated: July 21, 2017

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Pt usha: track & field legend.

P T Usha, born on June 27, 1964, is a former Indian track and field athlete who is widely regarded as one of the greatest athletes in Indian sports history. She is known for her outstanding achievements in sprinting and has represented India in several international competitions, including the Olympics. P T Usha is also known as the 'Payyoli Express' after her birthplace, Payyoli, a small village in Kerala.

Early Life of P T Usha

P T Usha was born into a family of farmers in Payyoli, Kerala. She was the fourth of seven children and grew up in a modest household. From a young age, she was interested in sports and used to participate in local athletic events. She was discovered by a coach when she was in high school, and he recognised her talent and potential.

Personal Life of P T Usha

P T Usha is married to V. Srinivasan, a former athlete and her coach. The couple has a son named Ujjwal.

Education of P T Usha

P T Usha completed her schooling at the Government High School in Payyoli. She then joined the Sports Division of the Kannur University to pursue a degree in Economics while continuing her athletic training.

Career of P T Usha

P T Usha's career as an athlete began when she was in high school, and she started participating in local competitions. She first represented India at the age of 16 in the 1980 Moscow Olympics, where she competed in the 100m and 200m events. However, she did not make it past the heats.

Her breakthrough came in the 1982 Asian Games held in Delhi, where she won a silver medal in the 100m event and four gold medals in the 200m, 400m, 400m hurdles and 4x400m relay events. She went on to win several other international events, including the Asian Track and Field Championships and the World Cup.

P T Usha's most significant achievements came in the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, where she narrowly missed a bronze medal in the 400m hurdles event. She finished fourth, missing the podium by just 1/100th of a second, a record that still stands today. She also participated in the 100m and 200m events at the Olympics.

Records of P T Usha

P T Usha holds several national and international records. She still holds the Indian national record in the 400m hurdles event and has several other records in the 100m, 200m and 400m events.

Achievements of P T Usha

P T Usha has won several national and international medals in her career, including 13 gold, 3 silver and 1 bronze medal at the Asian Games, Asian Track and Field Championships and other international events.

Awards and Honours of P T Usha

P T Usha's achievements and contributions to Indian sports have been recognised with numerous awards and honours. She has been conferred with the Arjuna Award, the Padma Shri and the Padma Bhushan, which are among the highest civilian awards in India. She has also been honoured with the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna, India's highest sporting honour, for her outstanding contributions to athletics.

P T Usha is an inspiration and role model for aspiring athletes in India and around the world. Her dedication, perseverance and hard work have helped her overcome numerous challenges and obstacles to achieve greatness in her sport. She is an icon of Indian sports and an embodiment of the spirit of determination and resilience.

What is P T Usha famous for?

P T Usha is famous for her achievements in sprinting and for representing India in several international competitions, including the Olympics.

What are P T Usha's most significant achievements?

P T Usha's most significant achievements include winning several national and international medals, including 13 gold, 3 silver, and 1 bronze medal at the Asian Games, Asian Track and Field Championships, and other international events. She also narrowly missed a bronze medal in the 400m hurdles event at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics.

What awards has P T Usha won?

P T Usha has won several awards, including the Arjuna Award, the Padma Shri, the Padma Bhushan, and the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna, which are among the highest civilian awards in India.

What is P T Usha's current occupation?

P T Usha is currently a coach and mentor to aspiring athletes at the Usha School of Athletics, which she founded in 2002 to nurture young talent in India.

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Pt usha biography: queen of indian track and field.

Table of Contents

PT Usha (PT Usha full name: Payyoli Tevaraparampil Usha), at 59, is still one of the most talked-about track and field athletes of India of all time. Usha was on December 10, 2022 elected as the first woman president of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA). This legendary athlete has been a constant in our G.K books for years. Having secured 4 Asian gold medals and 7 silver medals, she is widely acclaimed as the “Queen of Indian track and field.” This blog delves into the biography of PT Usha and explores her extraordinary journey to becoming a legendary figure in the nation.

She is one of India’s best-known women athletes with a 2-decade long career and people call her with love “ Payyoli Express “.

PT Usha Biography

PT Usha “Payyoli Express”- Journey

Her struggle and achievements are unparalleled. She was born in a poor family in Meladi-Payyoli, Kerala. Despite the poverty and lack of nourishment, Usha showed early aptitude in sports.  Realizing her talent, the Kerala Government awarded her a scholarship of Rs. 250 to Payyoli express.

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She had to go to a special sports school at Kannur for education and training.  The turning point in Usha’s life was when O. M. Nambiar, her coach throughout, spotted her in 1976 at the National School Games. He realized Usha’s great potential and trained her to be the Indian legend she is today.

“At this age, she has exhibited great courage and confidence. I didn’t see any sign of nervousness during the event. The ability to push hard in the closing stages of the race gives her an edge,”

PT Usha International Career

She started her international career in 1980 at the Moscow, Olympics . But disappointment struck as she lost bronze by 0.01 second. She proved her real mettle when she won silver medals in 100m and 200m event at the 9th Asian Games in 1982 in New Delhi.

Usha’s shining moment came at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics. Despite some setbacks in other events, she focused on the 400m hurdles and set a new Commonwealth record. In the final, she narrowly missed a medal by 1/100th of a second, attributed partly to a false start disrupting her rhythm.

At the 1985 Jakarta Asian Meet, Payyoli Express earned her title of the sprint queen as she won five gold medals (in the 100m, 200m, 400m, 400m hurdles, and the 4x400m relay ) and a bronze in the 100m relay.  In the 1986 Seoul Asian games, Usha notched up four Gold medals and silver.

PT Usha With Other Athletes

She is always seen supporting athletes and has openly spoken about the issues faced by Indian Athletes on an international level. The amount of responsibility she feels for Indian Sports system is both important and commendable. She is always seen encouraging Indian athletes on Social platforms like Twitter and Facebook.

Usha School Of Athletics

After retiring from her career, she started an athletics school  in 2002 at Koyilandi, Kerala to impart training to girls from all over the country. This school recruits children in the 10-12 age group. She started this school with an aim to get an Olympic medal for the Country. Usha believes that India is lacking behind not in terms of talent but basic facilities.

Her school provides free training to the athletes. They also have free facilities for food and shelter. Usha school is an organization that is dedicated to supporting young talents who have bigger goals but lack the facilities to reach their dreams.

PT Usha- IOA President

India’s legendary track and field athlete, PT Usha, made history as she was unanimously elected as the first woman president of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) in 2022. The executive committee elections, overseen by retired Supreme Court judge Justice L Nageswara Rao, had 77 members in the electoral college, including PT Usha. With no other contenders, her victory in the IOA elections was a mere formality after she filed her nomination papers previously.

Simple Yet Determined

Usha married to V. Srinivasa, an inspector with Central Industry Security Force in 1991. She was blessed with a boy, Ujjwal. In fact, at one point in time, she returned back to the track after a gap of 4 years and won a silver medal at the Hiroshima Asiad!

The illustrious career of P.T Usha speaks for itself. She has been the finest women athlete India has ever produced. 

PT Usha Awards and Honors

• Honorary doctorate (D.Litt.) conferred by Kannur University in 2000
• Honorary doctorate (D.Sc.) conferred by IIT Kanpur in 2017
• Honorary doctorate (D.Litt.) conferred by the University of Calicut in 2018
• IAAF Veteran Pin in 2019
• Padma Shri in 1985

Payyoli Express Statistics

PT Usha Social Media

Gutted by the news of sad demise of former Kerala CM Oommen Chandy Sir. Sir was the one who gave wings to my dream by allocating land to establish Usha School of Athletics. Me, my family, trust board members, staff & all students of the school express our deepest condolences. 🙏 pic.twitter.com/JvbHbOKsZk — P.T. USHA (@PTUshaOfficial) July 18, 2023

Remembering our brave and valiant soldiers of the Indian Armed Forces on Kargil Vijay Diwas. They're our true heroes who stood tall against adversity, safeguarding their motherland and people. @adgpi @indiannavy @IAF_MCC pic.twitter.com/sscnG8cLDp — P.T. USHA (@PTUshaOfficial) July 26, 2023

Celebrating 31 years of companionship, love & togetherness today on our wedding anniversary. pic.twitter.com/ikYTVKI1em — P.T. USHA (@PTUshaOfficial) April 25, 2022

View this post on Instagram A post shared by P.T.Usha (@ptushaofficial)

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Happy Birthday PT Usha: The Life and Career of Indian Olympian

Published By : Nibandh Vinod

Trending Desk

Last Updated: June 27, 2023, 07:13 IST

Thiruvananthapuram [Trivandrum], India

In 2022, PT Usha emerged as the first woman to become the president of the Indian Olympic Association. (Image: AFP file)

Happy Birthday PT Usha: During her era from the late 80s to the early 90s, PT Usha was amongst the fastest women in the world

HAPPY BIRTHDAY PT USHA: Pilavullakandi Thekkeparambil Usha, popularly known as PT Usha, celebrates her 59th birthday today. Regarded as one of India’s greatest-ever athletes, PT Usha is known by the nickname of the queen of track and field. During her era from the late 80s to the early 90s, PT Usha was amongst the fastest women in the world. She also held several world records and is the recipient of numerous awards and honours. Let us take a look at some of her achievements and what she is doing now in her life.

1980 TO 1990

PT Usha participated in the Moscow Olympics in 1980. In the same year, she went on to secure four gold medals in the Karachi International invitation meet. In 1985, PT Usha was adjudged the Best Railway Athlete. She became the first-ever Indian athlete to achieve this feat in the history of Indian Railways. She also went on to win five gold medals and one bronze medal at the Asian Championships at Jakarta in 1985.

In the very next year, she earned four gold medals and one bronze at the Asian Games in Seoul. PT Usha won four gold medals and five silvers at the 1989 Asian Championships and 1990 Asian Games.

At the 1990 Beijing Asian Games, she secured three silver medals. PT Usha announced her retirement in 1990 but later made a comeback to the professional sport.

1990 TO 1999

She won a silver medal in the Asian Games in the year 1994 and a bronze medal in the International Permit Meet at Pune in the same year. In 1995, PT Usha won another bronze medal in SAF Games at Chennai and one more bronze in the International Permit Meet at Pune.

In the following year, PT Usha participated in the Atlanta Olympic Games. She won one gold medal, one silver medal and two bronze medals at the Asian Track and Field Meet at Fukokkova.

In 1999, PT Usha took home one more gold and two silver medals in the SAF Games at Kathmandu and another gold in the Raja Balindra Singh International Athletic Meet at New Delhi.

Apart from these achievements, PT Usha has also been honoured with the Arjuna Award in 1984. A year later, she was conferred with the Padma Shri award.

In 2022, she emerged as the first woman to become the president of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA). She was also the first Olympian to assume the post.

• Happy Birthday PT Usha

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I was not a one-race wonder: PT Usha opens up on ‘golden period’

The sprinter narrowly missed out on an Olympic medal but was vastly successful at international and continental meets. PT Usha's birthday falls on June 27.

There have been several Indians in track-and-field events who have competed at the Olympics and some have even come close to winning a medal but none more so than PT Usha .

The Indian runner finished fourth in the 400m hurdles at the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles, missing out on bronze by a mere 1/100th of a second. It would have been a historic feat had she done so - and at a mere 20-years old.

However, PT Usha had proved her quality and an incredible example of her ability came during the 1985 Asian Athletics Championships in Jakarta, Indonesia. The Indian runner ended up with five gold medals and a bronze, all won within a span of five days.

People often talk about these remarkable feats but PT Usha, whose birthday is on Saturday, does not agree with the fact that that is what defines her.

“I didn’t just run one event at one championship and win a medal. It was not a flash in the pan. Right through the ‘80s and for over a decade, I won gold medals for India,” she said in an interview with The Indian Express .

“I peaked from 1984 onwards. To win gold after gold and medal after medal at the Asian Games, the Asian Championships and at Grand Prix events in Europe was no mean feat.

“It was a wonderful period for Indian athletics and, if I may say so, I was to a large extent responsible for track and field being as popular as cricket in India back then. Jakarta was the start of the golden period.”

The feat mesmerized the city so much that when someone mentions PT Usha’s name in Jakarta even today, they are handed discounts by the local shopkeepers, the Indian runner revealed while narrating the story of a friend who had recently visited Indonesia.

How training in London helped

PT Usha was a pioneer in more ways than one. While she steadily became synonymous with running in India, what also aided her was the fact that she decided to train in Europe, London to be specific.

The Indian runner decided to train at the Crystal Palace Sports Training Centre some months before the Asian Athletics Championships and flew there along with coach OM Nambiar.

It was a new experience and fortunately, she enjoyed the change in weather and also grew fond of the English breakfast. 

“I loved the bacon there. It was so juicy and tasty that I looked forward to breakfast. Eggs, toast, bacon and the salads, I hogged that,” she admitted.

“For dinner, I used to find an Indian restaurant and have tandoori chicken and rice. When I finished my stint in Crystal Palace, my haemoglobin levels were much higher compared to what it was before I left India.”

The London base made her travel to European events much simpler and gave her the confidence to achieve what she did at Jakarta in that five-day period.

By the time she retired, PT Usha had become a true Indian running legend that has inspired many a woman to take up athletics and the talents of Tintu Lukka and Dutee Chand would not have emerged had it not been for her efforts all those years ago.

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Short Essay on P.T. Usha, 200 words, Talent, Award

(Short essay on P.T Usha) P.T Usha  was born in 1964 in Melady , a tiny village in Kerala , She was a weak, sickly child and therefore was never expected to do anything related to ‘ sports ‘ in particular, which required a great deal of energy But an uncle on her mother’s side noticed Usha’s talent and made sure she joined Kerala’s Sports Training Scheme . Under the guidance of a dedicated coach, O.M. Nambiar , Usha won silver medals in the 100 metres and 200 metres sprints at the New Delhi Asian Games in 1982. Since then Usha won gold medals in virtually every individual event she entered in Asian women’s track and field athletics .

Her greatest victory being the Soul Asian Games in 1986 when she won gold medals in four events). Usha narrowly missed being the only Indian woman athlete ever to win an Olympic medal, when to her great disappointment she was beaten to fourth place by one-hundredth-of-a-second in the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics 400 metres Hurdles event.

Scoul Olympics (1988) was a tremendous disappointment for Usha and she gave up sports bidding goodbye to tracks in Beijing where, in the 1990 Asian Games , she could not win a single gold. It is said, that the Golden girl retired without a gold medal .

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Short essay on P.T. Usha pdf

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