Golden Girl PT Usha turns 56: Interesting facts about the queen of Indian track on her birthday
PT Usha or Pilavullakandi Thekkeparambil Usha is often considered as one of the greatest athletes India ever produced. She is also nicknamed 'Payyoli Express' and 'queen of Indian track and field' for her brilliant performance on the track.
PT Usha, or Pilavullakandi Thekkeparambil Usha is often considered as one of the greatest athletes India ever produced. She is also nicknamed 'Payyoli Express' and 'queen fo Indian track and field' for her brilliant performance on the track. Here are som
During the inter-state junior meet of 1978, PT Usha won four gold medals in - 100 m, 60m hurdles, high jump and 200m. She also won silver in long jump and bronze in 4x100m relay. She was 14. (Express Photo: PT Usha with her coach, Nambiar.)
Usha won multiple medals at the 1979 National Games and inter-state meet of 1980, setting national records. (Express Photo)
At the age of 16, Usha made her debut in the 1980 Olympic Games but was eliminated in the heats of the 100m, finishing fifth. (Photo | facebook.com PT.UshaOfficial/)
Usha set national records in both 100m and 200m by clocking 11.8s and 24.6s respectively during the interstate meet in Bengaluru in 1981. (Photo | facebook.com PT.UshaOfficial/)
Usha broke the 200m record again in 1983, at the Open National Championship at Jamshedpur by clocking 23.9s. She also a set a new record in 400m by clocking 53.6s. (Express Photo: PT Usha and Shiny Wilson giving India a gold medal and a silver medal in the 400 M Final at the 8 th Asian track and field.)
In the same year, Usha won the gold in 400 at the Asian Championship held in Kuwait City. (Photo | facebook.com PT.UshaOfficial/)
Usha's most remembered performances happened during the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games and its pre-trials. In a pre-trial, she beat top American sprinter Judi Brown by clocking 55.7s. She had earlier beat Asian Champion M D Valsamma to qualify for the Games. Usha came fourth at the Games final missing the bronze by 1/100th of a second. (Express Photo: P.T Usha being received by Kerala Sports Minister on her return from the Olympic Games.)
Usha set a new Commonwealth record in the heats and semi-final by clocking 56.81s and 55.54s at the Games. (Photo | facebook.com PT.UshaOfficial/)
Usha also currently holds the record for 400m hurdles for her 55.42s at 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games. Photo: Letters used to be addressed just 'P. T. Usha, India.' and it would reach her considering her popularity. (Photo | facebook.com PT.UshaOfficial/)
Usha holds the current world record for the most gold medals earned by a female athlete in a single track meet. She achieved this by winning five gold medals at the 1985 Asian Track and Field Meet at Jakarta- 100m in 11.64s, 200m in 23.05s, 400m in 52.62 and 400m hurdles in 56.64s and 4x400m relay. (Photo | facebook.com PT.UshaOfficial/)
