Payyoli Express ... Vinit Vartak ©

 Payyoli Express ... Vinit Vartak ©

Often the discussion is more about what a someone has gained or what he/she has lost than what has achieved. Good things are forgotten quickly and bad things always remain. If the whole country remembers a bitter experience at the age of 20 and remembers it for a lifetime, then we can't imagine how bitter that moment and that experience will be for that person. The pain of that defeat will continue to haunt him/her, and if that moment is 100th of a second, how much greater the pain will be. But it is said that some people are beyond this so they become legends. Enduring all this, India's 'Payoli Express' i.e. 'Pilavullakandi Thekkeparambil Usha' i.e. PT Usha is still working to erase the stain on her lives.

In the 400-meter hurdles at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, PT Usha lost the Olympic medal in just 1/100 of seconds, and India's dream of winning an Olympic medal in the sprint race has been shattered to this day. Apart from this one competition, Indians may not know what PT Usha did for India. Because Indians have yet to go beyond cricket to keep track of the 102 medals she has won in national and international competitions. The 'Paioli Express' who hoisted India's tricolor single-handedly on the track after winning as many as 13 gold medals and 33 international medals in the Asian Games is now limited to a generation. A time when women in India could not think beyond hearth and child. At that time, a shadowy girl from the state of Kerala was making progress in the school competition.

It is said that it takes a good gemologist to recognize a real diamond. This is what happened in the case of PT Usha. It was O.M.Nambiar who first saw the talent she had. Born and started in a very poor family, PT Usha's journey is inspiring to many athletes. According to her, she never ran for a medal and never to beat anyone, but only to break her own records. In her words,

I never wanted to be an Olympian. All I wanted was to keep breaking my own record. I never competed to defeat anybody. —P. T. Usha 

She suffered an injury before the 1988 Olympics and had to withdraw from the competition. Indians do not have the mentality to understand that an injury to a player can be an easy event in his/her career. Withdrawal from the competition sparked outrage. People cursed her. Several people threw stones at her house. How would a player who had already lost confidence due to her injury face such an outburst from the public? PT Usha asked herself why she came into the playing field. But coming out of this, she showed that she is still Payyoli Express by earning 4 gold and 2 silver medals while participating in 1989 Asian Games. 

After her retirement, Payoli Express, which was the queen of India's track field from 1976 to 2000, set out to win the Indian tricolor. In 2002, she started an athletic school in Kerala with a view to developing future runners. Admission is given to girls of 10-12 years. The benefit of such a huge experience is that P.T. Usha has made it available for free. She lamented that there was no shortage of talent in the country. What is lacking is the facilities available to the players. The problem is the same as it was in 1976. That is why she has created this school. From her school, she has produced 8 international level runners (girls) and 2 Olympic runners for India. Her journey to help India win an Olympic medal in the running competition continues today.

The reason why she is remembered today is that the President of India has chosen her for the Rajya Sabha of India. It would not be an exaggeration to say that the President has honored her invaluable contribution in hoisting India's tricolor in international competitions. PT Usha's whole life is an inspiration for everyone. She overcame the challenges and obstacles in her life with her perseverance and hard work. Whether it was financial difficulties, inadequate amenities or health problems, she faced them with tremendous confidence and hoisted the Indian flag at the top.

Today, PT Usha says that she remembers the medal she lost by one hundredth of a second, but in reality, her accomplishment is much bigger than this. I sincerely feel that Indians have sadly forgotten to honor her. Today, whether it is Hima Das, Dooti Chand or Jisna Mathew. She is a behind-the-scenes guide for all Indian runners. Today, P.T. Usha has worked hard for four decades. I sincerely think that the selection of a person like her for the Rajya Sabha is definitely a good start somewhere. I have no doubt that she will be a voice for Indian players in the Indian Parliament in the years to come.

A heartfelt salute from an Indian to India's Payoli Express and best wishes for her next journey.

Jai Hind !!!

Photo Search Courtesy: - Google (In one photo, PT Usha while running, in the second photo with her winning medal and in the third photo with India's emerging runners Hima Das and Jisna Mathew.)

Note: - The wording in this post is copyright.