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Usha raring to go at SAF Games

'Payyoli Express' P T Usha is all set to scorch the track at the South Asian Federation Games in Kathmandu.

The former sprint queen was confidence personified during a practice session at the Nehru stadium in Delhi on the eve of her departure for Kathmandu.

The undisputed queen of Indian athletics till the mid nineties, 35-year-old Usha will be participating in a SAF Games outside India for the first time.

"There was not much competition in the SAF Games so I used to skip it," a beaming Usha said.

"I participated in the Calcutta and Chennai editions because the Indian spectators wanted to see me in action," she added.

Fighting injuries, inlcuding a knee operation which she underwent after the 1995 SAF Games, Usha was in full steam during the Federation Cup at Bangalore and the Inter-State meet at Lucknow.

"Though I participated only in four events, I achieved my personal best of 23.25 secs in 200 m at Lucknow," she said. "Twice I equalled my previous best of 23.27 seconds, set during the 1988 Asian Track and Field event at Fukoka and at ATF meet in Delhi the next year," she recalled.

Usha said she had completely recovered from the hamstring pull she sustained during the Bangkok Asian Games, but still felt some pain in the knee which was operated upon after the 1995 SAF Games if she stretched herself.

''I would have done well in Bangkok but for the harmstring pull,'' she added.

The presence of big names from Sri Lanka, who had won golds in Bangkok does not seem to deter Usha, who is all set to pick the gauntlet.

''I am not bothered about them. I want to do better in the SAF Games,'' she declared.

She said: ''Though I did not join the camp, I was having regular training at Kerala for the last six months alongside taking medicines, after a month's rest following the Asian Games. Now I am fine and looking forward to the SAF Games."

About india's chances in the saf games, Usha said India is expected to well in all the events at the SAF Games. "There might be a challenge only in the sprint events. In other events we should do well," she said.

Asked if the chilly weather and higher altitude would affect her performance, she said, ''The conditions might have an impact only for long distance events. Not not in sprint events. Will it?"

On her recent perfromances, Usha said she did well in the 100 metres at Trivandrum and in the 200 metres in the Federation Cup. "I want to do better in the SAF Games.''

The veteran athlete said she had improved upon her timings everytime she took to the track.

Usha will be participating in 100 metres, 200 metres and 4 x 100 metres relay in the SAF Games.

UNI