Retired Indian track and field athlete PT Usha, who turned 58, (born on June 27, 1964) has been associated with Indian athletics since 1979. She is often called the "Queen of Indian track and field".
Here are some interesting facts about her:
1. Usha was first noticed in 1977 by OM Nambiar, an athletics coach, at a sports prize-distribution ceremony.
2. In an interview with Rediff.com in 2000, he said, "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." The same year he began coaching her.
3. Quick results followed when she won six medals at the inter-state meet for juniors in Kollam in 1978, with four gold medals in 100 m, 200 m, 60 m hurdles and high jump, silver in long jump and bronze in 4×100 m relay.
4. In the year's Kerala State college meet, she won 14 medals.
5. She went on to win multiple medals at the 1979 National Games and 1980 National inter-state meet setting many meet records.
6. At the 1982 New Delhi Asian Games, she won silver medals in 100 m and 200 m.
7. At the Asian Championships in Kuwait City, she won gold in 400 m.
8. Currently, PT Usha is a Committee Head of Indian Talent organization which conducts the National Level Indian Talent Olympiad examinations in schools across India.
9. PT Usha represented India in 4×100 metres relay together with Tanya Manya, EB Shyla and Saraswati Saha at the 1998 Asian Championships in Athletics where her team won the gold medal.
10. Usha married V Srinivasan, an inspector with Central Industrial Security Force, in 1991. The couple has a son.
