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Dawn of the new athlete
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Her name means dawn and P.T. Usha is heralding a new era of professional athletes with her sports school
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My only regret is that I failed to win an Olympic medal which I missed by 1/100th of a second in Los Angeles P.T. USHA
PHOTO: VINO JOHN
TRUE GRIT P.T. Usha: `Doping is the saddest aspect of today's athletics'
Two legends, each pioneers in their own right. One, N.R. Narayana Murthy, who revolutionised the Indian corporate sector, and the other India's golden girl, P.T. Usha, sprinter par excellence. The two got together during the release of Ushas, the newsletter of Usha School of Athletics recently at the sprawling Infosys campus in Bangalore.
Ushas is a quarterly newsletter brought out by the Friends of Usha, a charitable trust that supports the cause of athletics, led by the "Payyoli Express".
The athlete, who missed by a whisker an Olympics bronze in 400m hurdles way back in 1984, is heralding a revolution through her School of Athletics in Kerala. She spoke to MetroPlus about her work and students.
On her early days
My parents were against me taking up sports but relented after a lot of persuasion. I'm glad I took up to the sport and could achieve whatever I did — 102 international medals and about 800 national medals.
On her career
My only regret is that I failed to win an Olympic medal which I missed by 1/100th of a second in Los Angeles. That is what is driving me to train and get the best out of the children under my care.
I am targeting the London Olympics in 2012 and I am confident that some from my school will hit big time by then.
On Usha School of Athletics
The Kerala Government has given me 30 acres to house my school at Kinalur in Kozhikode. And with the support from Indians all over the world, I am able to generate funds for the various activities. The school was inaugurated on May 29, 2002 and the first batch of athletes joined in 2003. Within the next year it started winning medals at the district level.
It was in 2005 that the Friends of Usha was formed and the idea of the newsletter conceived to reach a larger segment of people both within India and abroad. One can join this group of like-minded people by paying with nominal charges/contributions according to one's capabilities.
As far as the project is concerned P.N.C. Menon of Sobha Developers visited our school and promised to construct hostels.
Raidco has a tie-up to supply materials. Infosys as an institution and through its individual patrons — Sudha Murthy, S. Gopalakrishan, T.V. Mohandas Pai, S.D. Shibulal and many others — are big contributors. Dr. Saji Gopinath and Dr. Schiller Jose are providing professional support to the school.
On those under her wing
There are 11 students (four juniors and seven sub-juniors) training under me. Two of them — Tintu Luka and Sonia K.A — have already touched the Asian marks at the age of just 16 and below. I see a bright future for them. Also, the rest have emerged sub-junior champions at the State school games championships. They will soon participate at the national level.
On grooming talent
During our time, facilities and scientific training was not there. Today, the athletes are getting good exposure but only after they do well at the Asian level at least. This is not right. Even at the basic level there should be proper training and a scientific approach.
At the age of 11 its easy and advisable to change or rectify the style and training methods, but not at 18. This is very important for the development of an athlete.
On her contemporaries
Glad that Sri Lanka's Susanthika Jayasinghe has made a comeback from her injury (stress fracture). She is a class act. (Susanthika incidentally was a 200 m bronze medallist at the Sydney Olympics in 2000.)
On Anju Bobby George
She is a real star who has come up on sheer determination and hard work. Her effort at the Paris World Championships 2003 when she won a bronze in the long jump is laudable.
On doping
It's the saddest aspect of today's athletics. Many resort to this for quick success not knowing the consequences of taking drugs. Efforts are being made to eradicate the menaceThere is no fun in seeing someone win with the help of drugs.
On her family
My husband Sreenivasan has stood by me at all times. My son Ujwal who is 13 is not yet into sports in a big way.
AVINASH NAIR
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Bangalore
Chennai
Coimbatore
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Kochi
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Visakhapatnam
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