Sports
PT Usha was nicknamed "Payoli Express " as she was born in Payoli village in Kozhikode district of Kerala.
Updated : Jun 27, 2021, 12:54 PM IST | Edited by : Karen Noronha
PT Usha - Pilavullakandi Thekeparambil Usha - who was born on June 27, 1964, is often called the "Queen of Indian track and field". The retired Indian track and field athlete has been associated with Indian athletics since 1979 and was nicknamed "Payoli Express " as she was born in Payoli village in Kozhikode district of Kerala.
So as she celebrates her birthday today, fans took to Twitter to wish the Indian athlete.
Birthday greetings to the legend and India's original "Golden Girl" PT Usha. She is still dedicated to Indian sports and providing training & coaching to very young athletes.
— Kiren Rijiju (@KirenRijiju) June 27, 2021
I pray for her good health & long life. pic.twitter.com/dl0QxxPEzL
Birthday Greetings To The....
— Babul Supriyo (@SuPriyoBabul) June 27, 2021
"queen of Indian track and field". @PTUshaOfficial #PTusha #HappyBirthday pic.twitter.com/Gh4SWFgjvx
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, LEGEND! Here's wishing the very best to the legendary @PTUshaOfficial ~ thank you for inspiring a generation
Getty #happybirthday #ptusha #BharatArmy pic.twitter.com/EleiW5YUQV— The Bharat Army (@thebharatarmy) June 27, 2021
Birthday wishes to My childhood inspiration,Amazing Athlete ,Padmasri @PTUshaOfficial ji
— Pidikiti Bhupal (@BhupalPsr) June 27, 2021
You are a true #inspiration for Millions of people like me
God bless you with Good health and Great strength #HBDPTUsha #HappyBirthDayPTusha#PTusha #Olympics #birthday pic.twitter.com/NjVnwI55ZZ
Happy Birthday Legend!!! Wishing you a very happy birthday @PTUshaOfficial ma'am.
— Debanshi Biswas (@BiswasDebanshi) June 27, 2021
Thank you for inspiring a generation.
PT Usha, the "Queen Of Indian Track And Field"
The entire nation is proud of you #PTusha #HappyBirthdayPTUsha pic.twitter.com/FOBvyZY7Ak
There was a time when any daughter ran fast her parents casually used to say #ptusha jaise bhaagti hai such was her impact...#PTUsha@Bhar_InsanParty pic.twitter.com/X8SkY41wGJ
— Azhar Ali (@azharalibip) June 27, 2021
@PTUshaOfficial
— (@SivarenjiniM) June 27, 2021
She is always an inspiration#PTusha#HappyBirthdayPTUsha pic.twitter.com/08cmeTBTJr
She debuted at the 1980 Moscow Olympics and then later in 1982 New Delhi Asian, she won silver medals in the 100m and 200m. A year later, she won a gold medal in the 400m with a new Asian record in the Asian Track and Field competition in Kuwait. Between 1983-89, Usha won 13 gold medals in ATF Games.
She also became the first woman and fifth Indian to reach the final of any Olympic championship after winning the semi-final of the 400m hurdles.
In the 10th Asian Games held in Seoul in 1986, P.T. Usha won 4 gold and 1 silver medal and she even set a new Asian Games record in all the races she participated in. She won five gold medals at the 1985 Asian Race in Jakarta and won six gold medals in the same international event is also a record.