P. T. Usha (born 27 June 1964) is an Indian former track and field athlete, often called the “Queen of Indian track and field”. Known as the “Payyoli Express”, she won a string of Asian titles. She finished fourth in the 400 m hurdles at the 1984 Olympics, missing bronze by one-hundredth of a second. Since 2022 she has been president of the Indian Olympic Association, the first woman and first Olympian to hold the post.
Quick Facts
| Full name | Pilavullakandi Thekkeparambil Usha |
| Born | 27 June 1964, Payyoli, Kozhikode, Kerala, India |
| Age | 62 |
| Known as | Payyoli Express, Golden Girl |
| Events | Sprints and 400 m hurdles |
| Coach | O. M. Nambiar |
| Current roles | President, Indian Olympic Association; Rajya Sabha MP |
| Honours | Arjuna Award (1983), Padma Shri (1985) |
Early Life
Usha was born in Payyoli, a village in Kerala’s Kozhikode district. Her talent was spotted at school, and she won a Kerala government sports scholarship. Under coach O. M. Nambiar she quickly rose to national level.
Career
Usha competed at the 1980 Moscow Olympics as a teenager. At the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics she became the first Indian woman to reach an Olympic athletics final. In the 400 m hurdles she finished fourth, missing the bronze by 1/100th of a second.
Usha won five gold medals at the 1985 Asian Athletics Championships in Jakarta. At the 1986 Asian Games in Seoul she won four golds, in the 200 m, 400 m, 400 m hurdles and 4 × 400 m relay, plus a silver. Over her career she won more than 100 international medals.
In 2002 Usha founded the Usha School of Athletics in Kerala to train young athletes. In 2022 she was nominated to the Rajya Sabha. In December 2022 she was elected unopposed as president of the Indian Olympic Association.
Personal Life
Usha is married to V. Srinivasan, a former Kabaddi player and government official. They have a son, Ujjwal.
Major Achievements
Frequently Asked Questions
When and where was P. T. Usha born?
P. T. Usha was born on 27 June 1964 in Payyoli, Kozhikode, Kerala, India.
What honours has P. T. Usha received?
Arjuna Award (1983), Padma Shri (1985).
