P. T. Usha

I used to train on the beach when I went home.

'Khelo' Games is certainly a good idea. I am happy to see that the government is trying to do something to improve sports at the grass-roots level and that lots of money is being spent on it.

I think javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra has a good chance of winning a medal at the Paris Olympics.

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.

It got injured in 1995 and was operated upon once.

Winning the 400 meters gold at the pre-Olympics gave me a little confidence. I thought I could win a medal if I tried.

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!

Misery and sorrow, I don't want to have anything to do with them. I always want to be happy and cheerful.

If life could come back, if I could roll back the years, I would like to relive my most cherished moment, the Los Angeles Olympics.

I fear human beings, because we cannot predict the swings of a human being. They are capable of doing anything. I really fear that.

After my first track event, sports became my life.

During our time, we used to go to school at the age of six.

My stride is perfect for 15 steps till I cross the seventh hurdle when I switch to 17 steps.

For one thing, I would like to see some new faces in all sports associations. Often you have the same people controlling a sport. They may change their designations or they may be controlling affairs from behind the curtain even when they don't have any role officially.

My dream is to see an Indian with a gold medal in athletics in the Olympics.

Every day, I get four-five calls from filmmakers across the world. They all want to make a movie on my life and journey, but every time, I say no.

There is so much of politics in sport that I sometimes wonder how did I survive for such a long time.

For a sport like javelin throw, only if you're physically there watching it from up close, will you get the feel of it.

At the 1985 Asian Track and Field meet in Jakarta, where I won five golds and a bronze, I was taken for testing after every race, which reduced my recovery time considerably; otherwise I could have performed even better.

Records are meant to be broken and they should be broken, but fairly.

An Olympic medal in athletics is still a dream for India. Milkha Singh is the torchbearer for young athletes to achieve that goal.

It's important for schools to encourage sports.

The biggest problem with the national sports awards in India is that the selection committee which the government appoints every year does not have any real powers.

In my opinion happiness is nothing but satisfaction - satisfaction through work, thoughts and accomplishing our mission and vision.

After a long day at school, sports will help them rejuvenate their system. Especially in the digital era, where almost every kid uses a smartphone.

The country has to identify and promote raw talent. I have full faith that India will win Olympic gold in athletics sooner than later.

The only realistic offer came from Nebraska University who offered me a scholarship to be a physical education director. What will a 24-year-old do with that? Retire and study?

I would like to make it clear that there were no solid offers to train abroad.

Rather than missing the medal, the overall message from across the Indian contingent was my effort proved that we can win an Olympic medal.

There will be no one like me in the history of Olympics, someone who competed in an Olympic final with one international meet.

During the time of Olympics I felt very lonely. Nobody was there at my side, to guide me or attend to my needs. In the Olympic village I had to travel alone up to the mess and competition ground as well as to the practice ground.

During my stay in Pakistan, those people who love sports extended their happiness and good wishes to our Indian side.

When I passed 7th standard, govt. of Kerala announced a separate sports school for aspiring young girls. During the selection trials, I stood first in district level as well as state level.

I believe it's an honor for me wherever I go in and around the country people still identify me and love me so much.

No one had told us that in L.A. we would get only American food. I had no choice but to eat rice porridge without any nutrition supplement, and that definitely affected my performance in the last 35 meters of my event since I couldn't sustain the energy level.

When sports gets involved with petty politics from authorities and co-athletes, it becomes a nasty game.

There are many incidents in which I have seen and experienced cheap politics.

I have won so many awards including the Padma Shri and Arjuna Award. But all these awards do not carry the kind of prestige they did once.

When you compete with better athletes, you also get better.

My parents provided me the best they could, if not more. I was even provided goat milk by my parents.

When I was a trainee at Kannur Sports School at the age of 13, my coach Nambiar sir used to tell us a lot of things about Milkha Singh - his achievements, lack of nervousness on the track, and a lot of fun stories about him.

U.S. and Russia - both coach their athletes from the grassroots level on and provide scientific training.

My life has actually been full of challenges and painful moments - but I tried to bury such circumstances and work with complete dedication.

While I was studying in class V, my school's PT teacher happened to make me run alongside the current sub-district champion from our school. I came first - that was when my ability was identified.

I come from a middle-class family in Kozhikode, Kerala.

The 1982 Asian Games champion M.D. Valsamma's coach gave a statement in the media that if Valsamma had some 15 days training on a synthetic track, she would beat me. I was very interested in the challenge. I kept that paper cutting under my bed and used to read it often.

I was the first athlete in the country to have a personal coach.

I was good in science in school and parents thought I would become a school teacher like my mother.

My dad did not want me to take up sport initially, he was worried that I would get injured.

Kerala is doing well because here the kids are encouraged to compete in sports, both by parents and teachers in schools.