P.T. Usha, a legendary Indian sprinter and only leading sprinter in Asia of her era will join as one of the six-member of Athletes Commission of the Asian Athletics Association.
P.T.Usha is known as Payyoli Express, as she was born in Payyoli village of Kerala. In 1964 she was chosen to represent her district. She was coached by O.M. Nambiar, who was awarded Dronacharya award in 1985. She came under the limelight when she won five medals in the interstate meet in Kollam in 1978. Later she won five gold medals and one bronze in the 1983 Asian Championships. In 1986 Asian Games, she won four gold medals and one bronze medal but before that, in 1984 she missed the Olympic medal by 1/100 seconds as she finished fourth. She retired from athletics in the year 2000 and set up her own sports academy in Kerala.
She was awarded Arjuna Award in 1983 and Padma Shri in the year 1985. Usha has won 101 international medals and now she gives training to young athletes at her training academy in Kerala and also a committee head of Indian Talent organisation.
Now she is one of the six-member of Asian Athletics Commission, and it is a proud moment for India as well as Usha. She is really the queen of Indian track. Usha who is now 55 was nominated for the International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF) Veteran Pin Award.
The other members of the Asian Athletics Commission are Wang Yu, Olga Rypakova, Lee Hup Wei and Saad Shaddad and to be headed by 1992 Olympics gold medalist hammer thrower Andrey Abduvaliyev of Uzbekistan. It is an achievement not only for Usha but also for the country too. All six members are world level champions. Usha deserves this place as she is still one of the greatest athletes in India.
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