This Article is From Apr 12, 2012

Blog: PT Usha's protege, Tintu, trains with Olympic hopes

Blog: PT Usha's protege, Tintu, trains with Olympic hopes
Kozhikode: "Where is that girl you reckon is our hope for the London Olympics?" I ask nervously.

"Tintu, you are asking about Tintu Luka, she is right there on the track", says PT Usha, one of the finest athletes India has ever produced.

Usha is now training and mentoring a batch of 17 girls in Kinalur, a calm and quiet village near Kozhikode in Kerala and she believes Tintu Luka is the brightest star in her galaxy.

"You can take her pictures, but no interview allowed. I do not want to put any pressure on her", she says. The former sportsperson is careful not to expose her protégé to unnecessary media glitter. So I manage to click some photographs while Tintu is busy in a practice session. The girls practice for roughly three hours daily in the morning and in the evening.

If Usha's efforts bear fruit, Kinalur will certainly become one of the most talked-about places in the country.

"We are very particular about the effort and performance the girls put in every day. We have no tolerance for a casual approach. Usha selects new girls every year and also weeds out the non-serious residents in our hostel", says Srinivasan, who is Usha's husband and partner in her endeavour.

Their effort has not gone waste. Tintu has got recognition in the 800-metres split and secured the fifth place in 2010 in the IAAF Continental Cup. She is also holds the national record in the 800-metres segment. The young athlete has also been invited for the 2012 IAAF Diamond League meet in Doha and Rome.

"These are big and rare achievements in our country though people do not write much about it," says Usha. "If the commonwealth games come, they (media) put it in news months before, but getting an invitation for such an event is far more prestigious and important", she adds.

As you walk around the ground, you see young faces practicing all over. The girls are between 12 to 22 years old and Usha believes that 12 is the right age in our country to enter into serious training.

At first glance, it is difficult to believe how these girls will win medals for us. On sheer physical strength, they don't appear to match up to their European or American counterparts.     

Nevertheless, Usha is a believer. She has a different point of view. "Body is God's gift. There are many girls who have come here, many of them are tall and strong but they don't work hard. So what is the use of the physique?"

She firmly believes that mental strength and the zeal to improve one's stamina is far more important in taking a sportsperson ahead.

"Look at Tintu. How much effort does she put in; 100 percent every time. There are stronger girls than her but they do not perform at more than 85 percent. They cannot take the pain. So what is the use? They look so ordinary on the track", she says.

Usha believes that her hard work has contributed in bringing Tintu Luka to the stage that she is currently at. She looks like any ordinary girl but it's her endurance levels that distinguish her from the rest.    

The girls are provided special meals cooked by the hostel kitchen. A special Ayurveda doctor is around to take care of their health. Herbal massage and yoga follow practice sessions to regain energy.

The performance of the girls is recorded on a daily basis. What Usha did in the 1980s isn't archived but her husband has ensured that everything is maintained in records. "Tintu's records will help the future generations to prepare" says Usha.

"So is there only one star in the making?" I ask inquisitively.

Usha will not tell you but Srinivasan gives me a glimpse.

"There are girls we are nurturing who will excel... better and better. Next to Tintu is Jessi Joseph, who has already broken Tintu's record in the same age." I had seen 16-year-old Jessi on the track running with Tintu. She has curious eyes and a smile on her face. Jessi is touted to be a star of the future.

There are many others. Sanjana, Chinchu Chako and Abidha. All of them are between 12 to 15 years of age and hold a promise for India. These girls hail from very poor backgrounds which only strengthens their determination. In a way, poverty has turned into their strength.

But where do they get the funding from? Where do they get the support from? I am told that the land is given by the government. Every athlete needs at least one lakh rupees annually which individuals from organisations like Infosys pitch in with.  

"When they will become heroes, everyone will come to sponsor. What is the use then? If we have to get a medal in the Olympics, we need to put the money now," says Usha.

It's time to for me to eat. The meal is served - fresh and delicious.  Most of the ingredients are grown through organic farming and are carefully cooked for these young athletes.

These girls may not get as much attention as their glamorous counterparts from cricket and tennis do but they are equally determined to perform and bring honour to their country - and hence fulfil a long-awaited dream of an Olympic medal in athletics.

"Milkha Singh and I missed it by a fraction of a second, but Tintu will do it for us." says the hopeful PT Usha.
 
"Amen" I say.
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