Usha dreams of coaching Olympic medal winner by 2012

Usha dreams of coaching Olympic medal winner by 2012
Bangalore | May 19, 2006 2:47:35 PM IST

Veteran sprint queen P T Usha, who missed a medal in the 1986 Olympics by a whisker, today spelt out her dream of moulding an Indian athlete who could grab the honours in the 2012 London Olympics.

Speaking at the launch of USHA, a newsletter on sports and fitness, at Infosys campus here, she said ''I began running at the age of 13. My parents were hardly interested in athletics as they knew little about it. I neither had access to energy food or vitamin supplements and corporate support was a dream. Still I could win 102 international medals through sheer determination. But my dream of winning an Olympic medal could never be achieved. Hence, I have vowed to work selflessly towards producing an athlete who will bring home an Olympic medal in 2012.'' The journal is being published by the Usha School of Athletics with the help of the IT major, which is actively supporting her school of athletics near Kozhikode in Kerala.

The 'Payyoli Express', as she was popularly referred to, said she was proud to be associated with Infosys, but needed more such support to create awareness about athletics and make the sport more popular in the country. ''We have eleven young athletes in our school now. They have already shown promise by becoming sub-junior champions in school games and three of them have been picked for the Asian junior camp to be held at Patiala.'' Infosys Chairman N R Narayana Murthy, speaking on the occasion, said it was a privilige to be associated with an one-of-a-kind person like Usha and lauded her selfless endeavour to create more champions.

''I strongly believe that the country can produce more champions like Usha. For this, we need more modern training facilities and awareness. She needs all help to raise the aspirations, enthusiasm and inspiration among the young people to achive higher goals.

Towards achieing her goal of producing an Olympic medallist. We will do whatever we can do,'' he said.

Infosys HR Head Mohandas Pai said Usha had made the country proud and was a shining example of how an individual could achieve one's goal amidst adversity. ''We understand what she did and now we should give her what she wants,'' he added.

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