‘Golden Girl’ to lead cheer squad

It was way back in 1986 that India’s ‘golden girl’ PT Usha left a blazing trail at the Seoul Asian Games winning four gold m...

It was way back in 1986 that India’s ‘golden girl’ PT Usha left a blazing trail at the Seoul Asian Games winning four gold medals in the 200m, 400m, 400m hurdles and 4x100m relay events.

Then the entire Korean crowd rose to its feet as one and cheered her glorious performance at the Games. Sixteen years hence, the Arjuna and Padmasree Awardee, will be making it to Busan — this time as India’s cheer leader. Usha’s name was suggested by Indian Olympic Association president Suresh Kalmadi and the Indian contingent’s official sponsors — Samsung India — readily agreed to pick the tab for Usha.

In fact, Samsung are sending cheer leaders from various countries to support their respective athletes at the Games. Although this ‘‘Power of Asia” programme by the sponsors is restricted to eight university students from each of the shortlisted countries — India are one of them — the officials have decided to extend the sponsorship to Usha as well.

MVP award

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As in the past, Samsung will also honour the best performance by an Indian in Busan with its Most Valued Performance award for an athlete who matches the maximum number of the five criteria: a world and/or an Asian record, consistency in performance in relation to his/her performance in the previous edition, winning multiple gold medals, and his/her fighting spirit.

The award carries Rs. 2.5 lakh worth of Samsung products.

During the send-off function held here last evening, Kalmadi without committing himself said the Indian contingent would put its best foot forward at the Games and was hopeful that the medal tally at Busan would be more than what it was at Bangkok, four years ago.