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PT Usha (PT Usha full name: Payyoli Tevaraparampil Usha), at 59, is still one of the most talked-about track and field athletes of India of all time. Usha was on December 10, 2022 elected as the first woman president of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA). This legendary athlete has been a constant in our G.K books for years. Having secured 4 Asian gold medals and 7 silver medals, she is widely acclaimed as the “Queen of Indian track and field.” This blog delves into the biography of PT Usha and explores her extraordinary journey to becoming a legendary figure in the nation.
She is one of India’s best-known women athletes with a 2-decade long career and people call her with love “Payyoli Express“.
PT Usha Biography
| PT Usha Full Name | Payyoli Tevaraparampil Usha |
| PT Usha Age | 59 years |
| PT Usha Date of Birth | 27 June 1964 |
| PT Usha Coach | O. M. Nambiar |
| Sport | Track and Field (Athletics) |
| PT Usha Awards and medals |
|
| PT Usha Achievement | Won 102 medals at National and International meets. 100 m: 11.39 (Jakarta 1985) 200 m: 23.05 (Lucknow 1999) 400 m: 51.61 (Canberra 1985) 400 m hurdles: 55.42 NR (Los Angeles 1984) |
| PT Usha Hobbies | Running, Fitness, Coaching |
| PT Usha Height | 170 c.m |
| Weight | 56 k.g |
| Gender | Female |
| Spouse | V. Srinivasan (1991) |
| PT Usha Son | Vignesh Ujjwal, Ujjwal Srinivasan |
| Parent | E.P.M. Paithal, T.V. Laxmi |
| PT Usha Hometown | Pilavullakandi Thekkeparambil Usha |
| PT Usha Networth | Assumed about $1 Million – $5 Million (Approx.) |
PT Usha “Payyoli Express”- Journey
Her struggle and achievements are unparalleled. She was born in a poor family in Meladi-Payyoli, Kerala. Despite the poverty and lack of nourishment, Usha showed early aptitude in sports. Realizing her talent, the Kerala Government awarded her a scholarship of Rs. 250 to Payyoli express.
She had to go to a special sports school at Kannur for education and training. The turning point in Usha’s life was when O. M. Nambiar, her coach throughout, spotted her in 1976 at the National School Games. He realized Usha’s great potential and trained her to be the Indian legend she is today.
“At this age, she has exhibited great courage and confidence. I didn’t see any sign of nervousness during the event. The ability to push hard in the closing stages of the race gives her an edge,”
PT Usha International Career
She started her international career in 1980 at the Moscow, Olympics. But disappointment struck as she lost bronze by 0.01 second. She proved her real mettle when she won silver medals in 100m and 200m event at the 9th Asian Games in 1982 in New Delhi.
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Usha’s shining moment came at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics. Despite some setbacks in other events, she focused on the 400m hurdles and set a new Commonwealth record. In the final, she narrowly missed a medal by 1/100th of a second, attributed partly to a false start disrupting her rhythm.
At the 1985 Jakarta Asian Meet, Payyoli Express earned her title of the sprint queen as she won five gold medals (in the 100m, 200m, 400m, 400m hurdles, and the 4x400m relay) and a bronze in the 100m relay. In the 1986 Seoul Asian games, Usha notched up four Gold medals and silver.
PT Usha With Other Athletes
She is always seen supporting athletes and has openly spoken about the issues faced by Indian Athletes on an international level. The amount of responsibility she feels for Indian Sports system is both important and commendable. She is always seen encouraging Indian athletes on Social platforms like Twitter and Facebook.
Usha School Of Athletics
After retiring from her career, she started an athletics school in 2002 at Koyilandi, Kerala to impart training to girls from all over the country. This school recruits children in the 10-12 age group. She started this school with an aim to get an Olympic medal for the Country. Usha believes that India is lacking behind not in terms of talent but basic facilities.
Her school provides free training to the athletes. They also have free facilities for food and shelter. Usha school is an organization that is dedicated to supporting young talents who have bigger goals but lack the facilities to reach their dreams.
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PT Usha- IOA President
India’s legendary track and field athlete, PT Usha, made history as she was unanimously elected as the first woman president of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) in 2022. The executive committee elections, overseen by retired Supreme Court judge Justice L Nageswara Rao, had 77 members in the electoral college, including PT Usha. With no other contenders, her victory in the IOA elections was a mere formality after she filed her nomination papers previously.
Simple Yet Determined
Usha married to V. Srinivasa, an inspector with Central Industry Security Force in 1991. She was blessed with a boy, Ujjwal. In fact, at one point in time, she returned back to the track after a gap of 4 years and won a silver medal at the Hiroshima Asiad!
The illustrious career of P.T Usha speaks for itself. She has been the finest women athlete India has ever produced.
PT Usha Awards and Honors
- Honorary doctorate (D.Litt.) conferred by Kannur University in 2000
- Honorary doctorate (D.Sc.) conferred by IIT Kanpur in 2017
- Honorary doctorate (D.Litt.) conferred by the University of Calicut in 2018
- IAAF Veteran Pin in 2019
- Padma Shri in 1985
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Payyoli Express Statistics
| Year | Competition | Venue | Position | Event | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Olympic Games | Moscow, Russia | 5th (heats) | 100 metres | 12.27 |
| 1982 | Asian Games | New Delhi, India | 2nd | 100 metres | 11.67 |
| 2nd | 200 metres | 24.32 | |||
| 1983 | Asian Championships | Kuwait City, Kuwait | 2nd | 200 metres | 24.68 |
| 1st | 400 metres | 54.20 | |||
| 1984 | Olympic Games | Los Angeles, USA | 4th | 400 metres hurdles | 55.42 |
| 7th | 4 × 400 m relay | 3:32.49 | |||
| 1985 | Asian Championships | Jakarta, Indonesia | 1st | 100 metres | 11.64 |
| 1st | 200 metres | 23.05 | |||
| 1st | 400 metres | 52.62 | |||
| 1st | 400 metres hurdles | 56.64 | |||
| 3rd | 4 × 100 m relay | 45.22 | |||
| 1st | 4 x 400 m relay | 3:34.10 | |||
| World Cup | Canberra, Australia | 7th | 400 metres | 51.61 | |
| 5th | 400 metres hurdles | 56.35 | |||
| 8th | 4 x 400 m relay | 3:37.59 | |||
| 1986 | Asian Games | Seoul, South Korea | 2nd | 100 metres | 11.67 |
| 1st | 200 metres | 23.44 | |||
| 1st | 400 metres | 52.16 | |||
| 1st | 400 metres hurdles | 56.06 | |||
| 1st | 4 x 400 m relay | 3:34.58 | |||
| 1987 | Asian Championships | Singapore | 2nd | 100 metres | 11.74 |
| 1st | 400 metres | 52.31 | |||
| 1st | 400 metres hurdles | 56.48 | |||
| 2nd | 4 x 100 m relay | 45.49 | |||
| 1st | 4 x 400 m relay | 3:34.50 | |||
| World Championships | Rome, Italy | DNS | 400 metres | — | |
| 6th (semifinal) | 400 metres hurdles | 55.89 | |||
| 8th (heats) | 4 x 400 m relay | 3:31.55 | |||
| 1988 | Olympic Games | Seoul, South Korea | 7th (heats) | 400 metre hurdles | 59.55 |
| 1989 | Asian Championships | New Delhi, India | 2nd | 100 metres | 11.74 |
| 1st | 200 metres | 23.27 | |||
| 1st | 400 metres | 51.90 | |||
| 1st | 400 metres hurdles | 56.14 | |||
| 2nd | 4 x 100 m relay | 44.87 | |||
| 1st | 4 x 400 m relay | 3:32.95 | |||
| 1990 | Asian Games | Beijing, China | 4th | 200 metres | 24.29 |
| 2nd | 400 metres | 52.86 | |||
| 2nd | 4 x 100 m relay | 44.99 | |||
| 2nd | 4 x 400 m relay | 3:38.45 | |||
| 1994 | Asian Games | Hiroshima, Japan | 4th | 200 metres | 24.29 |
| 5th | 4 x 100 relay | ||||
| 2nd | 4 x 400 m relay | 3:33.34 | |||
| 1996 | Olympic Games | Atlanta, USA | DSQ[N 2] | 4 x 400 m relay | — |
| 1998 | Asian Championships | Fukuoka, Japan | 3rd | 200 metres | 23.27 |
| 3rd | 400 metres | 52.55 | |||
| 1st | 4 x 100 m relay | 44.43 | |||
| 2nd | 4 x 400 m relay | 3:34.04 | |||
| Asian Games | Bangkok, Thailand | 6th | 400 metres | 54.37 | |
| 4th | 4 x 100 m relay | 44.77 |
PT Usha Social Media
Gutted by the news of sad demise of former Kerala CM Oommen Chandy Sir. Sir was the one who gave wings to my dream by allocating land to establish Usha School of Athletics. Me, my family, trust board members, staff & all students of the school express our deepest condolences. 🙏 pic.twitter.com/JvbHbOKsZk
— P.T. USHA (@PTUshaOfficial) July 18, 2023
Remembering our brave and valiant soldiers of the Indian Armed Forces on Kargil Vijay Diwas. They're our true heroes who stood tall against adversity, safeguarding their motherland and people.@adgpi @indiannavy @IAF_MCC pic.twitter.com/sscnG8cLDp
— P.T. USHA (@PTUshaOfficial) July 26, 2023
Celebrating 31 years of companionship, love & togetherness today on our wedding anniversary. pic.twitter.com/ikYTVKI1em
— P.T. USHA (@PTUshaOfficial) April 25, 2022
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PT Usha Images
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