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The Rediff Interview / P T Usha

'I missed an Olympic medal, now I want to ensure that one of my students wins one'

P T Usha is undoubtedly India's greatest athlete. In an incredible career spanning over two decades, she has won more international medals that any other Indian in the history of Indian sport, leave aside athletics. At the age of 36, she has decided to retire from active competition. A nagging knee injury which kept her out of action for the last few months, and her desire to spend more time with her son, prompted the decision to call it a day.

"It is a painful decision but a well thought out one. Two decades is a long time, and as I go, I have a bag of mixed emotions, some great moments and some bitter experiences," Usha said while announcing her retirement.

The veteran athlete, who won an astonishing 22 medals including 14 gold at the Asian Track and Field championships over the years and eight Asian Games medals, including four gold at the 1986 Seoul Games, will now concentrate on developing young talent in her home town in Kerala, where she plans to set up the Usha School of Athletics in Koilandi, near Kozhikode.

"I want to give back something to athletics and that is why I took the decision to set up this institute. I want more athletes to come up and perform well for the country," she says.

In a brief conversation with K Nagarajan, Usha reflects on her decision to quit and the highs and lows of her career.

What prompted you to quit all so suddenly?

Actually, since I did well in the last season I wanted to run in Asian track and field meet and the Sydney Olympics. I wanted to be in Asian track and field team and planned to announce my retirement after that meet. But now, after all the practice and competition, my knee is giving trouble. It got injured in 1995 and was operated upon once. I was under treatment, but I need at least 20 to 30 days for speed work, and three months more to get back into full form. The Asian track and field meet is starting on August 28, by which time I won't be fully fit. After that there is no international meet, as the next one is only in 2002. I don't want to continue till then.

At the end of your career are you satisfied with what you have achieved, or would you have liked to go out with a bang?

I am still the top-ranked athlete in India. I thought I would do well in the Asian track and field meet, but this injury has come in the way. But I must say I am satisfied with what I have achieved. All what I aimed for, except the Olympic medal, I achieved. That's why I want to start the Usha School of Athletics. I missed an Olympic medal, now I want to ensure that one of my students wins one!

On your way out you raked up the controversy about the use of drugs in Indian athletics. What are your thoughts on this issue?

I told the truth about all that is happening. I don't think what I have said is wrong. In international meets, like the Olympics and Asian Games, drug tests are mandatory. When everything is in place, then only will the records be ratified. I am not saying that people are taking drugs. Everybody knows what things are going on on the field. I know; everybody knows what's going on. All I am saying is that international rules should be applied in India as well before national records are ratified.

When you think about the 1984 Olympics, where you narrowly missed out on a medal, what goes through your mind?

Actually, before the Olympics I only thought of reaching the finals. Winning the 400 metres gold at the pre-Olympics gave me a little confidence. I thought I could win a medal if I tried. I ran heats of the 400 metres hurdles and came second. When finished first in the semi-finals I got little more confident. But I was unlucky; lack of experience also cost me a medal. Had I run at least 10 races before the Games I could have won the race. I ran only two races in India and one in Los Angeles. My fourth race was the heats. Had I missed out on the medal by 10 or 15 metres I would not have felt bad, but I missed it by 1/100th of second. So, even now, it rankles me. Had I run three more races I would have not committed such a mistake. Had I even lunged forward at the finish I would have got the medal.

Can you say something about your proposed school of athletics in Kozhikode?

Actually we have talent but people are not coming forward. They do not have big ambitions. They should have an aim in mind and try to achieve it. Nobody wants to work hard. Everybody is selecting the short route. My school is a big project. All the things I didn't get I want to provide in that school. It will take two years to be completed. The Kerala government has already given me 40 acres of land for it. But if you think about facilities, you cannot do well. If you compare today's facilities to that of the eighties, everything has improved. I hope to provide the best.

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