P. T. Usha

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P. T. Usha
[[Image:‎|150px]]
Born Pilavullakandi Thekkeparambil Usha [1]
27 June 1964
Payyoli, Kozhikode, Kerala, India
Residence Payyoli, Kozhikode
Nationality Indian
Other names Payyoli Express
Employers Indian Railways
Title Padmashri
Known for Losing the Bronze Medal at 1984 Los Angeles Olympics 400 metre hurdles by a fraction of a second.
Spouse V. Srinivasan
Children Ujjwal
Parents Paithal, Lakshmi
Website
http://www.ptusha.com/

Pilavullakandi Thekkeparambil Usha (born on June 27, 1964), popularly known as PT Usha is an Indian athlete. Regarded as queen of Indian track and field, P.T. Usha has been associated with Indian athletics since 1979. Her initials stand for her family/house name, according to tradition in many parts of Kerala. She was also nicknamed Payyoli Express.

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[edit] Early Life

PT Usha was born in the village of Payyoli, Kozhikode District, near Calicut, Kerala to a Chaaliyan family. In 1976 the Kerala State Government started a Sports School for women, and Usha was chosen to represent her district, at a cost of Rs. 250 per month paid by the state.

[edit] Career

In 1979 she participated in the National School Games, where she was noticed by O. Madhavan Nambiar, who coached her through most of her career. At a time when 'athletics was very much a male sport in India, and track-suited women a rarity'. Her debut in the 1980 Moscow Olympics was lacklustre. In the 1982 New Delhi Asiad, she managed only silver medals in the 100 m and the 200 m, but at the Asian Track and Field Championship in Kuwait a year later, Usha took gold in the 400m with a new Asian record[citation needed] . Between 1983-89, Usha garnered 13 golds at ATF meets. She finished first in the semi-finals of the 400 metres hurdles in the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, but faltered in the finals. In almost a repeat of Milkha Singh's 1960 feat, there was a nail-biting photo finish for the third place. Usha lost the bronze by 1/100th of a second. She became the first Indian woman (and the fifth Indian) to reach the final of an Olympic event by winning her 400 m hurdles Semi-final.

In the 10th Asian Games held at Seoul in 1986, P.T.Usha won 4 gold and 1 silver medal in the track and field events. Here she created new Asian Games records in all the events she participated. She won five golds at the 6th Asian Track and Field Championship at Jakarta in 1985. Her six medals at the same meet is a record for a single athlete in a single international meet.[citation needed]

Usha has won 101 international medals so far. She is employed as an officer in the Southern Railways. In 1985, she was conferred the Padma Shri and the Arjuna award.

[edit] Achievements

Medal record
Image:PTUsha.jpg
P. T. Usha
Women's athletics
Asian Games
Silver 1982 New Delhi 2 No.s
Gold 1986 Seoul 4 No.s
Silver 1986 Seoul 1 No.
Silver 1990 Beijing 3 No.s
Silver 1994 Hiroshima 1 No.
  • 1980: -- Participated in Moscow Olympics games

Secured 4 gold medals in the Karachi international Invitation meet.

  • 1981: -- Secured 2 gold medals in Pune Int: Invitation meet.

1 gold medal in Hissar Int: Invitation meet. 2 gold medals in Ludhiana Int: Invitation meet.

  • 1982: -- Secured 1 gold medal & 1 bronze medal in the world junior meet at Seoul.

2 Silver medal in New Delhi Asian Games.

  • 1983: -- Secured 1 gold medal & 1 silver medal in Asian Track & Field Meet At Kuwait

2 Gold in Int: national Invitation Meet at New Delhi 2 Gold in Int: national Invitation Meet at New Delhi

  • 1984: -- Secured 1 gold medal in Int: national meet at Inglewood U.S.A

Participated in the Los Angeles Olympics Games in the 400 M.H and missed a Bronze medal by 1/ 100 Th of a second. 7th place in the 4x 400 mt: relay 3 Gold medals in the Eight nations Int: Invitation meet Singapore 4th place in 400.M.H in the Int: national Invitation Meet at Tokyo

  • 1985: -- Secured 2 Gold & 2 Silver medal in the World Railway meet at Olomog,in Czheck republic and was adjudged as the Best Railway Athlete. It was the first time in the history of Indian Railways that any Indian athlete,male or female achieved this honor for Indian Railways.

5th place in the World Grand Prix Meet at Prague in 400 m.hurdles Bronze Medal in the World Grand Prix Meet at London in 400m.h. Silver Medal in the World Grand Prix Meet at Britslawa in 400m. 4the place World Grand Prix Meet at Paris in 400 m. Bronze Medal in the World Grand Prix Meet at Budapest in 400m. Silver Medal in the World Grand Prix Meet at London Silver Medal in the World Grand Prix Meet at Ostrawa 5th place in 400.M.H. & 4th place in 400.Metres in World Cup Championship held in Canberra. 5 Gold Medals & 1 Bronze Medal in Asian Track & Field Meet at Jakarta.

  • 1986: -- 6th place in the 400 m. in Good Will Games at Moscow.

4 Gold medals & 1 Silver medal in the Asian Games at Seoul. 1 Gold medal in the Malaysian Open Athletic Meet. 3 Gold Medals in Lions Athletic Meet at Singapore. 2 Gold Medals in Four Nations Int: National Invitation Meet at New Delhi.

  • 1987: -- Secured 3 Gold medals & 2 Silver medals in the Asian Track & field Meet at Singapore.

2 Gold medals in the Malaysian open athletic meet at Kuala Lumpur 3 Gold medals in the Int: invitation meet at a New Delhi. 5 Gold medals in the South Asian Federation Games at Calcutta. Parcipated in the World Champion Ship OF Athletics in Rome.She became the first Indian to run in the semi finals of 400 m.hurdles.}

2 Gold medals in Pre-Olympics Intl athletic meet at New Delhi. Participated in the Seoul Olympics 400m Hurdles.

  • 1989: -- 4 gold medals& 2 silver medals in the Asian Track Field Meet At New Delhi

3 gold medals in the Intl Invitation Meet at Calcutta 4 gold medals in the Malayasian Open Athletic Meet.

  • 1990: -- 3 silver medals in the Beijing Asian Games
  • 1994: -- 1 silver medal in the Hiroshima Asian Games.

1 bronze medal in the Intl Permit Meet at Pune.

  • 1995: -- 1 bronze medal in the SAF Games at Chennai

1 bronze medal in the Intl Permit Meet at Pune.

  • 1996: -- Participated in the Atlanta Olympics Games.

1 silver medal in the Intl Permit Meet at Pune.

  • 1997: -- 1 gold medal in the Intl Permit Meet at Patiala.
  • 1998: -- 1 gold medal,1 silver medal and 2 bronze medal in the Asian Track Field Meet at Fukoka.

2 gold medals & 1 silver medal in the Raja Bhalendra Singh Intl Athletic meet at New Delhi.

Participated in the Bangkok Asian Games 1 silver medal awarded in the 4x400 mt.Relay as member

  • 1999: -- 1 gold medal & 2 silver medals in the SAF Games at Kathmandu

1 gold medal in the Raja Bhalendra Singh Intl Athletic meet at New Delhi.

[edit] World Record

During the 1985 Asian Track & Field Meet at Jakarta, Indonesia, Usha secured 5 gold medals in the 100, 200, and 400 meter sprints, the 400 meter hurdles, and the 4 x 400 meter relay. She also earned a bronze medal in the 4 x 100 meter relay. This is the current record for most gold medals earned by a female in a single track meet.

[edit] Awards and Honors

  • Recipient of Arjuna Award ,1984.
  • Greatest women athlete, in 1985 Jakarta Asian Athletic Meet.
  • Padma Sree in 1984.
  • Best Athlete in Asia Award in 1984,1985,1986,1987,and 1989.
  • Marshal Tito award for the best railway sportsperson in 1984,1985,1989 and 1990
  • 1986 Seoul Asian Games, won the Adidas Golden Shoe Award for the best athlete
  • Thirty International Awards, for her excellence in Athletics.
  • Kerala Sports Journalists Award for the year 1999.
  • World Trophy for best Athlete 1985, 1986

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ P.T. USHA Personal Profile at www.ptusha.org

[edit] External links

[edit] Further reading

India’s 50 Most Illustrious Women (ISBN 81-88086-19-3) by Indra Gupta