P T Usha alleges security threat in her academy; breaks down before media
Thiruvananthapuram/New Delhi, Feb 4: Legendary athlete and Indian Olympic Association (IOA) president P T Usha on Saturday broke down before the media alleging that illegal constructions were being carried out at her academy campus in Kozhikode district and strangers were trespassing into the property posing a security threat to the inmates.
Addressing a press conference in New Delhi, she said those at the Usha School of Athletics had been facing such harassment and security issues for some time and it has intensified after she became the Rajya Sabha Member.
Usha had been nominated to the Upper House by the BJP in July 2022.
The "sprint queen" appealed to the Left government in Kerala and Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan to intervene into the issue and take immediate steps to stop the alleged encroachment and trespassing into the campus and ensure the safety of women athletes there.
"Of the 25 women athletes in the Usha schools, 11 were from north India. It is our responsibility to ensure their safety. I submitted a written complaint to the Chief Minister in this regard," she said.
A teary-eyed Usha also said waste is being dumped on a large scale in the campus, which is also facing threat from the drug mafia but the local panchayat was not letting the academy management to construct a compound wall.
"An illegal construction was made just in the middle of the campus by someone and when we asked, they said they had the approval of the panchayat authorities for it. The school management also had to suffer rude behaviour when they questioned this encroachment," she said.
Usha said the 30-acre land, where the Usha School of Athletics is located, was handed over to them by the previous Oommen Chandy led-Congress government in the state for 30 years on lease.
Asked whether those at her academy were facing harassment and ill-treatment after she was nominated to the Rajya Sabha by the BJP, she said each political party had the habit of considering her as a member of its political rival.
"The Congress would say I am a CPI(M) sympathiser while the Marxist party would say I have an affiliation to the BJP.
"I have no politics and I used to help everyone in all possible ways," she added.
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India beat Japan 2-0, to face China in final of women's ACT hockey
Rajgir (Bihar), Nov 19: Defending champions India continued their unbeaten run and defeated Japan 2-0 to enter the final of the women's Asian Champions Trophy hockey tournament here on Tuesday.
Vice-captain Navneet Kaur converted a penalty stroke in the 48th minute while Lalaremsiami struck from field play in the 56th minute for India, who had plenty of scoring chances including 13 penalty corners.
India will face China, whom they defeated in the league stages, in the final on Wednesday. Earlier, China beat Malaysia 3-1 in the first semifinal.
Malaysia will take on Japan in the third-fourth place match, while Korea finished fifth after beating Thailand 3-0 in the fifth-sixth place classification match.
The Indians continued their attacking game and put on early pressure on the Japanese defence, just like the last league game.
The play was mostly inside the Japanese half as the Indian defence was hardly tested.
India had the first shot at the goal inside the initial five minute. Skipper Salima Tete's attempt was thwarted by Japanse goalkeeper Yu Kudo.
The Indians repeatedly penetrated the Japanese citadel and in the process secured two penalty corners in a span of two minutes but Kudo was alert under the bar to deny Navneet Kaur and Deepika.
Three minutes into the second quarter, India secured three back-to-back penalty corners but failed to find the back of the net.
It was raining penalty corners for the hosts as they got back-to-back set pieces in the 21st minute but Kudo produced a brilliant save with her fully-stretched right leg to deny Deepika again.
In the 24th minute, India earned a penalty corner followed by another in the next minute but failed to get past Japanese goalkeeper Kudo, as they also lacked in execution.
A minute after the change of ends, India secured two penalty corners but wasted both.
In the 35th minute, Kodu again denied Deepika from a set piece.
In the 41st minute, Deepika stole the ball just outside the Japanese circle, but shot wide from a one-on-one situation with Kudo.
Seconds from the end of third quarter, Kudo once again pulled off a brilliant save to deny Udita from another penalty corner.
In the 47th minute, India secured their 12th penalty corner but failed to breach Kudo.
But a minute later, India broke the deadlock through a penalty stroke earned by Deepika and Navneet made no mistake.
The goal seemed to have rejuvenated the Indians as they scored a fine field goal in the 56th minute.
Lalremsiami slammed into the back of the Japanese goal after she was brilliantly set up by Sunelita Toppo's terrific run from the right flank.
Japan got a penalty corner in the dying moments, but failed to get past a rock solid Indian defence.
