The Legendary Athlete of India - P.T. Usha: A Life of Perseverance and Achievements

 Pilavullakandi Thekkeparambil Usha, commonly known as P.T. Usha, is a legendary athlete from India who has won numerous accolades and brought laurels to the country. She is considered as one of the greatest athletes of India and has been an inspiration for many aspiring athletes. In this blog, we will discuss the life and achievements of P.T. Usha in detail.

Early Life

P.T. Usha was born on 27th June 1964 in the village of Payyoli in Kozhikode, Kerala. Her parents, T.V. Laxmanan and T.V. Janaky, were poor farmers. Usha was the fifth child among seven siblings. She had to walk 2 km every day to reach her school. Usha was a hyperactive child and used to play sports with boys in the village.

Career

Usha started her athletic career at the age of 14. She was trained by O. M. Nambiar, a former Indian athlete and coach. In 1979, Usha participated in the Kerala State School Meet and won six gold medals. In 1980, she won four gold medals in the National Junior Championships held in Bangalore. She represented India in the Asian Championships held in Tokyo in 1981 and won a silver medal in the 100m race.

In the 1982 Asian Games held in New Delhi, Usha won two silver medals and one bronze medal. She also won a gold medal in the 200m race in the 1983 Asian Championships held in Kuwait. In the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, Usha finished in the fourth position in the 400m hurdles, missing a bronze medal by 1/100th of a second. However, she set an Asian record in the event. She also participated in the 1985 Asian Championships held in Jakarta and won five gold medals.

Usha's most significant achievement came in the 1986 Asian Games held in Seoul. She won four gold medals and one silver medal in the games. She also set a new Asian record in the 200m race. In the 1987 Asian Championships held in Singapore, Usha won five gold medals and one silver medal. She also participated in the 1988 Seoul Olympics but failed to reach the finals in the 400m hurdles.

Usha retired from athletics in 2000. She has since then been involved in training young athletes at her academy, Usha School of Athletics, in Kerala.

Awards and Honours

P.T. Usha has received numerous awards and honours for her contribution to Indian athletics. Some of them are:

1. Arjuna Award (1984)
2. Padma Shri (1985)
3. Athlete of the Century Award by the Indian Olympic Association (1999)
4. National Citizen's Award (2004)
5. Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award (1998-99)
6. International Association of Athletics Federations Hall of Fame (2014)

Usha has also been conferred with honorary doctorates by several universities in India, including the University of Calicut and Kannur University.

Conclusion

P.T. Usha is a true legend of Indian athletics. She has been an inspiration for many aspiring athletes and has brought laurels to the country. Usha's achievements have helped to put Indian athletics on the world map. Her dedication, hard work, and perseverance are qualities that every athlete can learn from. P.T. Usha will always be remembered as one of the greatest athletes that India has ever produced.

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