75 years of independence, 75 iconic moments of Indian sport: Number 19 – PT Usha at the 1986 Asian Games
India will complete 75 years of Independence this year. Here is a series of 75 great sports achievements of Indian athletes. Sports star will showcase an iconic sporting achievement every day, through August 15, 2022.
PT Usha’s four gold medals at the 1986 Seoul Asian Games
At the 1986 Asian Games in Seoul, India finished fifth, with five gold medals. Four of the medals were won by a woman – PT Usha.
“Of all my Asian Games, Seoul will always be closest to my heart,” she said. “I was at my peak at the time and really wanted to go. I ran a lot of races in Seoul without much rest. I was mostly on the track during athletics. “
India’s PT Usha on his way to win the 400 m hurdles gold medal in record time at the Asian Games in Seoul, South Korea on September 30, 1986. – HINDU ARCHITECTURE
She won four golds – in the 200m, 400m, 400m hurdles and 4 x 400m relay – and a silver medal in the 100m. “I lost the 100m gold medal to Lydia de Vega of the Philippines, whom I once had a rivalry with; It was a bad start that let me down in that race,” said Usha. “It was really a satisfying outing for me in Seoul, where I kept my country’s flag flying and set three Olympic records.”
Usha almost single-handedly helped India reach fifth in total medals; she took four out of five of the country’s gold. When she opened her campaign, India was in 14th place in total medals.
(The article was first published at The Hindu on September 22, 2014)
Almost missed it in Los Angeles
Usha, also known as the ‘Payyoli Express’, brutally missed out on the biggest stage, two years before the Seoul Asian Games. Usha then 25 years old missed the Olympic medal in the women’s 400m hurdles one hundredth of a second in Los Angeles, 1984.
When the finals ended on August 8, she thought she had won the bronze medal. The announcer at the first stadium said she had won a bronze medal; then he stopped, suddenly. A few harrowing moments later, Usha discovered that she had finished fourth in a finished photo.
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Los Angeles ’84: gain and loss
“Me and India, missed the Olympic medal by a hundredth of a second in Los Angeles, 1984. The disappointment at the time was shattered, but now, 25 years later, I won’t hesitate even one bit. before the race ratings it was the best moment of my career.The nearby medal meant as much to me as some of the 100 odd international medals I’ve won in a long career. her nearly two decades”, said Usha Sportsstar in 2009.
