New Delhi:
Regarded as queen of Indian track and field, P. T. Usha has been associated with Indian athletics since 1979. She is one of the greatest athletes India has ever produced.
In 1979 she participated in the National School Games, where she was noticed by O. M. Nambiar, who coached her throughout her career.
AchievementsSecured 4 gold medals in the Karachi international Invitation meet
1981: Secured 2 gold medals in Pune Int: Invitation meet 1 gold medal in Hissar International Invitation meet 2 gold medals in Ludhiana International Invitation meet
1982: Secured 1 gold medal and 1 bronze medal in the world junior meet at Seoul 2 Silver medals in New Delhi Asian Games.
1983: Secured 1 gold medal and 1 silver medal in Asian Track & Field Meet at Kuwait 2 Gold in International Invitation Meet at New Delhi 2 Gold in Int: national Invitation Meet at New Delhi
1984: Secured 1 gold medal in International meet at Inglewood U.S.A
Participated in the Los Angeles Olympics Games in the 400 M.H and missed a bronze medal by 1/100th of a second. 7th place in the 4x 400 mt: relay 3 Gold medals in the Eight nations International Invitation meet Singapore 4th place in 400.M.H in the International Invitation Meet at Tokyo.
1985: Secured 2 Gold & 2 Silver medal in the World Railway meet at Olomog,in Czheck republic and was adjudged as the Best Railway Athlete. It was the first time in the history of Indian Railways that any Indian athlete, male or female achieved this honor for Indian Railways.
5th place in the World Grand Prix Meet at Prague in 400 m.hurdles Bronze Medal in the World Grand Prix Meet at London in 400m.h. Silver Medal in the World Grand Prix Meet at Britslawa in 400m. 4the place World Grand Prix Meet at Paris in 400 m. Bronze Medal in the World Grand Prix Meet at Budapest in 400m. Silver Medal in the World Grand Prix Meet at London Silver Medal in the World Grand Prix Meet at Ostrawa 5th place in 400.M.H. & 4th place in 400.Metres in World Cup Championship held in Canberra. 5 Gold Medals & 1 Bronze Medal in Asian Track & Field Meet at Jakarta. 1986: 6th place in the 400 m. in Good Will Games at Moscow.
4 Gold medals & 1 Silver medal in the Asian Games at Seoul. 1 Gold medal in the Malaysian Open Athletic Meet. 3 Gold Medals in Lions Athletic Meet at Singapore. 2 Gold Medals in Four Nations Int: National Invitation Meet at New Delhi. 1987: Secured 3 gold medals & 2 Silver medals in the Asian Track & field Meet at Singapore.
2 gold medals in the Malaysian open athletic meet at Kuala Lumpur 3 gold medals in the Int: invitation meet at a New Delhi. 5 Gold medals in the South Asian Federation Games at Calcutta. Parcipated in the World Champion Ship OF Athletics in Rome.She became the first Indian to run in the semi finals of 400m hurdles.
1988: 3 gold medals in the Singapore Open athletic meet at Singapore. 2 Gold medals in Pre-Olympics Intl athletic meet at New Delhi. Participated in the Seoul Olympics 400m Hurdles.
1989: 4 gold medals& 2 silver medals in the Asian Track Field Meet At New Delhi 3 gold medals in the Intl Invitation Meet at Calcutta 4 gold medals in the Malayasian Open Athletic Meet.
1990: 3 silver medals in the Beijing Asian Games
1994: 1 silver medal in the Hiroshima Asian Games. 1 bronze medal in the Intl Permit Meet at Pune. 1995: 1 bronze medal in the SAF Games at Chennai 1 bronze medal in the Intl Permit Meet at Pune. 1996: Participated in the Atlanta Olympics Games. 1 silver medal in the Intl Permit Meet at Pune. 1997: 1 gold medal in the Intl Permit Meet at Patiala. 1998: 1 gold medal,1 silver medal and 2 bronze medal in the Asian Track Field Meet at Fukoka. 2 gold medals & 1 silver medal in the Raja Bhalendra Singh Intl Athletic meet at New Delhi. Participated in the Bangkok Asian Games 1 silver medal awarded in the 4x400 mt.Relay as member 1999: 1 gold medal & 2 silver medals in the SAF Games at Kathmandu 1 gold medal in the Raja Bhalendra Singh International Athletic meet at New Delhi.
World Record During the 1985 Asian Track & Field Meet at Jakarta, Indonesia, Usha secured 5 gold medals in the 100, 200, and 400 metre sprints, the 400 metre hurdles, and the 4 x 400 metre relay. She also earned a bronze medal in the 4 x 100 metre relay. This is the current record for most gold medals earned by a female in a single track meet.
Awards and honours Recipient of Arjuna Award ,1984. Greatest women athlete, in 1985 Jakarta Asian Athletic Meet. Padma Sree in 1984. Best Athlete in Asia Award in 1984,1985,1986,1987,and 1989. Marshal Tito award for the best railway sportsperson in 1984,1985,1989 and 1990 1986 Seoul Asian Games, won the Adidas Golden Shoe Award for the best athlete Thirty International Awards, for her excellence in Athletics Kerala Sports Journalists Award for the year 1999 World Trophy for best Athlete 1985, 1986