There are many sportsmen who have created history – or we may also say all the sportsmen have created history but are not recognized.
In India there are various games played – but our national game is hockey and kabaddi.
India’s popular sports are football, badminton, shooting, wrestling, boxing, tennis, squash, table tennis, weightlifting, kho-kho, cricket, polo, snooker etc. But from all this cricket is the most famous game played – it is known as religion to India and Sachin Tendulkar is named as the god of this.
India have got various sports person such as – Sania Mirza, Sachin Tendulkar, Virat Kholi, Milkha Singh, Dhyan Chand, Mary Kom, Pankaj Advani, Abjinav Bindra Mahesh Bhupathi, PT Usha and many more which is impossible to count.
I like to throw some light on the Golden girl, Payyoli express (due to her speed she got this name) – none other PT Usha (Pilavullakandi Thekkeraparambil Usha) born in Kerala on 27 June 1964 and she is railway employee.
PT Usha – as her name is different and made the difference in the world – she was first noticed in 1977 and also known as the “Queen of Indian track and field”. In 1978 she won 6 medals with 4 gold medals 100m, 200m, 60 m hurdle and high jump. Here we can see that she was multi-talented. She has created national records in the 200m as well as in 400 m.
She have various achievement let us discuss few:
- 1983 – Asian Championships – Kuwait city, Kuwait – 400m – Gold
- 1985 – Asian Championships – Jakarta, Indonesia – 5 Gold and 1 bronze – Gold in 100m, 200m, 400 m, 400m hurdles, 4X400m relay and bronze – 4 X 100m relay.
- 1986 – Asian Games – Gold 4 Nos. and silver 1 No.
- 1987 – Asian Championships – 3 gold and 2 silver.
Many more – In almost all the formats of the games she has got the medals.
She represents India in the sport when women are kept in curtains (parda) and don’t let them study also. She fought and won the battle by proving herself best of all, she performed when there is no coach, no facility, struggling in each and every step, to get forward leg pullers are there. She is from a poor family – since school she always wanted to be a winner. Kerela is the only state where sex ratio of women is more than men. Girls are named as Laxmi as they take birth – advantage she got that at the time she was growing up sport centre was established the state government but to live there it is tuff – that time she was only 7 years – in 1 room – 10 girls stay there – basic need she never get – coach was also not available – she is self-motivated.
In which sports she takes part she gets gold – in 1 minute she used to run 1 Km – broke various records.
Finally she got linked/ recognized by O.M. Nambiar – later she becomes her coach. Now PT Usha gets a coach – and gets the opportunity to represent in international sports.
She first go to Pakistan – in general bogie and she get stone thrown, cow dunk from windows – as that time train was in this shape. In 1980 Moscow Olympic – 1st time taken flight – she get sick – in Moscow vomiting take place – hotel she stays taken some wrong drink in got more sick – it was too big. At the age 16 she was unknown to all, her coach was not there, only an international coach was available – she got lost various times, she was the smallest girl – their limelight was only hockey coach, by others confidence – she lagged her confidence so can perform well. No one to help for injury, she have her own academy to train young people’s.
200m in 24 second and many more national records, she always wants to be first. In trials she created a national record but still did not get good exposure. She didn’t have any competition in national games – pre Olympics she defeated the silver medal holder – but she finally got 4th position in Olympics – but got a good start and after the 4th hurdle she went to maximum speed. But as one Australian competitor fell down and the referee decided to restart the game now she doesn’t have a good start. Commentator also demotivated her. Further she has received many medals as details are available in the essay.
Her regret – In 1988 she couldn’t take part in the Olympics due to injury. Again in Asian games performed well – she got 101 Nos. international medals.
Married to CISF officer – Mr. V. Srinivasan
Got Padma Shri and Arjun award.
She started her initial training without shoes to run. She was inspired by Milkha Singh.
She is an inspiration to all and her story can be understood so that scarcity makes the difference if on the right track.
By Vivek Anand
