Usha completes unique century

Usha had completed her `century’ on the previous day, quite unobtrusively, when she won a silver in the women’s 200m, behind Sri Lanka’s Damayanthi Darsha.

This was disclosed by Sreenivasan, Usha’s husband, who is keeping a detailed record of his wife’s performance in the domestic and international meets.

“Even Usha may not be aware of her feat,” said Sreenivasan. “It would be a pleasant surprise for her when she learns about this.”

Usha started her medal hunt at the international level in the third week of March, 1980, when she won the 100m gold in the Pakistan National Games in Karachi. She went on to bag three more gold in the meet, including a sprint double. It was Usha’s first-ever international outing.

Her 25th medal came at the IAAF Grand Prix meet in London, where she won a bronze in 400m hurdles. She went on to win yet another bronze in the Cologne Grand Prix meet.

The Payyoli Express completed her 50 at the 1987 four-nation meet in New Delhi where she claimed gold in the 400M hurdles.

Medal No 75 came in the 1989 Asian Track and Field meet in New Delhi, a silver in the 4x100m relay.

Usha peaked in 1986. She won a record 16 medals in the year, including 13 gold, and a spate of new marks.