New Delhi: Legendary sprinter and Indian Olympic Association (IOA) president PT Usha was honored with the ‘Lifetime Achievement’ award by the Sports Journalists Federation of India (SJFI) and Delhi Sports Journalists Association on Sunday. DSJA) at the National Sports Club of India in New Delhi.
On the occasion, Usha was presented with a medal, a citation and a memento to honor her illustrious sporting career. The guest of honor Rajeev Shukla, Member of Parliament – Rajya Sabha and Vice President, BCCI and former Indian shooter Jaspal Rana were present at the ceremony. PT Usha is the fifth recipient of the SJFI and DSJA ‘Lifetime Achievement’ award after tennis legend Vijay Amritraj, former badminton icon Prakash Padukone, India cricket great Sunil Gavaskar and former sprinter Milkha Singh. Usha won 103 international medals for India in her memorable career between 1977 and 2000. He also won four gold medals and seven silver medals at the Asian Games and competed in three editions of the Olympics.
Speaking at the event, Usha said, “I am grateful that my career achievements are remembered till today. During my time, we did not have all the facilities that athletes have available to them in today’s era – overseas training, nutrition, sports psychologists, and sports science, among others. Now that I am working at the IOA, our efforts are to focus on the Paris Olympics. “After that we will focus on fulfilling Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of making India a sporting power by 2036.” Rajya Sabha MP Rajeev Shukla said, “PT Usha deserves the honor given to her.
He is an icon and guiding spirit for sportspersons in the country. Now he has been given a difficult task of administering the Indian Olympic Association.” (IOA), and we are confident that she will be able to overcome these water bodies effectively.” Former Indian shooter Jaspal Rana said, “Players feel happy when they are given awards. But giving an award of this stature to an athlete whom you have always looked up to is a different honour. I am grateful to have been given this opportunity.” Today. PT Usha has been a role model for many sportspersons around the world. I am proud that a strong person like him will now head the IOA and with his guidance and support we will be successful in many battles.”
After the award ceremony, Abhishek Tripathi, Chairman of the Executive Committee DSJA, thanked PT Usha and the guest of honour.
