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‘An athlete’s performance is for the country, not for a state’
Recall that scene in Chak De! India (2007), in which the hockey coach (played by Shah Rukh Khan) insists that the players learn to say that they’re all from India, not from this state or that state. Cut to 2018, and track and field legend PT Usha has almost exactly the same thoughts.
One nation, no boundaries, believes Usha. And that, she says, should reflect in sports reportage, too. “Reporters: Haryana boy wins, Delhi girl does it .... Chennai girl - Punjab boy!!! We could do without the states? Have you heard USA report of a Florid boy winning or a Texas girl? Or Australia go like - Melbourne girl wins? #noboundries #onenation (sic),” tweeted Usha, reacting to news reports about India’s wins at the Commonwealth Games 2018 in Gold Coast, Australia. Her tweet was supported by Minister of State for Sports and Youth Affairs, Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore.
“My tweet is valid. Our media propagate our precious sportsperson’s performance at the international [level] only for the sake of news value at the regional level,” says Usha, in a chat with us. “During my days, all media [would] praise our performance only for the sake of the country. We sportspersons are united [and] say that our performance is for the country, not for a state.”
The Indian contingent has done very well at CWG 2018, finishing in third place behind Australia and England, with 26 gold medals. Usha is filled with pride. She says, “My country is doing well in sports at the international level, too.”
The conversation turns to who might play PT Usha on screen. With so many sports biopics releasing of late, how has one not been made yet on such an icon? We mention reports that actor Priyanka Chopra has been roped in for a film. Usha says, “My biopic is in the pipeline. Casting is being done... maybe from Bollywood, Mollywood (Malayalam), Tamil, Kannada, Telugu [film industries], and even from Bhojpuri, Marathi, Bengali [cinema]. Shooting may start from September.”
Fondly called ‘Payyoli Express’ (after her hometown) and ‘Queen of Indian track and field’, how does Usha look at her journey? She replies, “My name is PT Usha; all other nicknames were given due to my performance, and the love and affection of sports lovers. If people remember my name, it means I’ve done something for my motherland.”
Reporters: Haryana boy wins, Delhi girl does it .... Chennai girl Punjab boy!!! We could do without the states? PT USHA SPORTS ICON