PT Usha

A six year old child from India competing at the world golf championship was unthinkable until a few months ago. By introducing this concept and providing the opportunity, GolfRiTe has proved to us that it is serious about producing world champions from India. – PT Usha

PT Usha was born in the village of Payyoli, Kozhikode District,Kerala. In 1976 the Kerala State Government started a Sports School for women and Usha was chosen to represent her district.

In 1979 she participated in the National School Games, where she was noticed by O.M. Nambiar, who coached her throughout her career. Her debut in the 1980 Moscow Olympics proved lacklustre but in the 1982 New Delhi Asiad, she won silver medals in the 100m and the 200m races. At the Asian Track and Field Championship in Kuwait a year later, Usha took gold in the 400m with a new Asian record. Between 1983-89, Usha garnered 13 gold medals at various Asian Track & Fields meets. She finished first in the semi-finals of the 400 metres hurdles in the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics but faltered in the finals. In almost a repeat of Milkha Singh's 1960 feat, there was a nail-biting photo finish for the third place. Usha lost the bronze by 1/100th of a second. She became the first Indian woman (and the fifth Indian) to reach the final of an Olympic event by winning her 400 m hurdles Semi-final.

In the 10th Asian Games held at Seoul in 1986, P.T.Usha won 4 gold and 1 silver medal in the track and field events. Here she created new Asian Games records in all the events she participated.She won five golds at the 6th Asian Track and Field Championship at Jakarta in 1985. Her six medals at the same meet is a record for a single athlete in a single international meet.

Usha has won 101 international medals so far. She is employed as an officer in the Southern Railways. In 1985, the Govt. of India conferred on her the prestigious Padma Shri and the Arjuna award.

Usha, who currently runs the Usha School of Athletics in her native Kerala, is the most decorated athlete that India has ever produced.