PM Modi hails PT Usha, calls her 'shining line of Indian sports'

Kozikode (Kerala) [India], June 15 (ANI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday heaped praise on former sprint queen P.T. Usha, saying she has been a shining line of sports in India. "PT Usha has been a shining line of sports in India. She endured several challenges in India and went on to enter the Olympics final where she missed the medal by a whisker. In the history of Indian athletics, very few have achieved a track record like hers," said Prime Minister Modi while inaugurating the synthetic track and stadium of the Usha School of Athletics located in Kozikode in Kerala through video conferencing. "Usha-- the nation is proud of you. What is good is that she has continued her association with sports," added. The eight-lane 400m synthetic track was built using the Rs 8.5 crore grant from the central government under national sports development fund. "This track is an important landmark in the development of Usha School and will provide modern facilities to the trainees," said Prime Minister Modi. The construction work of the synthetic track was inaugurated by the then Union Sports Minister Ajay Maken in October 2011 and the work was carried out by central PWD. "Like Usha, Usha School is making the best use of every opportunity by utilizing simple and limited resources," said Prime Minister Modi. "One of the top most priorities of our government is speedy implementation and completion of projects in the designated time. In fact the project was sanctioned in 2011, but the work order for the synthetic track was awarded in 2015," he added. The Prime Minister also hailed the women athletes, saying they have made the country proud and that the other Indian women should take inspiration from them and should be encouraged to take up sports. "Women in our country have made us proud by their achievements in all fields-more so in sports. We must encourage our daughters and allow them to take up sports," said Prime Minister Modi. (ANI)