BEIJING: India’s chances for an athletics gold brightened Monday as Usha, after a disappointing show in the 200m finals couple of days back, regained form to clock the fastest time in the 400m heats here.
The 26yearold Asian Sprint Queen, who is making her last appearance in an international meet before retiring into matrimony, gave one of her best performances in recent times to break the tape in 53.97 seconds.
According to news at the time of going to the press Usha could not win the 400m.
Usha, the Golden Girl from a remote village in Kerala, who had won four gold and two silver medals in last games at Seoul, warmed the cockles of a few Indians present at the huge workers stadium, pushing her nearest rival, Lin Wenhong of China, to far behind with long, majestic strides.
At the end of the race, the host, with a timing of 55.75 secs, was about ten metres behind Usha to be placed fifth, behind Saramma, in the final ranking.
Though it is heartening that Usha is peaking with every passing day, she is way behind her gold medal winning performance of 51.90 secs at the New Delhi ATF meet where she staged a splendid comeback after year’s long pain and agony.
Saramma also ran a very good race today giving a hot chase to the two leaders, Josephine and Li Wenhong.
The 19yearold Kerala College student, who was also instrumental in getting India a silver in the 4x 400 relay along with Usha ‘was just a fraction of a second behind Josephine and Guilian.
Article extracted from this publication >> October 5, 1990
