The nation mourns as V Srinivasan, husband of legendary athlete and Indian Olympic Association President PT Usha, passed away on January 30, 2026, at age 64, collapsing suddenly at their Kerala residence. This heartbreaking loss comes as Usha, now 61, continues her pioneering work leading Indian sports administration while serving as a Rajya Sabha member. From her humble beginnings in Payyoli village to becoming the “Queen of Indian Track and Field,” PT Usha’s journey—supported steadfastly by Srinivasan since their 1991 marriage—represents one of India’s greatest sporting legacies.
Who is PT Usha
Pt Usha Full Name is Pilavullakandi Thekkeparambil Usha, known as PT Usha, is a 61-year-old Indian sports administrator, parliamentarian, and retired track and field athlete born on June 27, 1964, in Koothali near Perambra in Kozhikode district, Kerala. She is celebrated as the “Queen of Indian Track and Field” and “Payyoli Express,” having won 11 medals at the Asian Games (4 gold, 7 silver) and becoming the first Indian woman to reach an Olympic athletics final. Currently, she serves as President of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) and is a member of the Rajya Sabha (upper house of Indian Parliament).
PT Usha Biography / Wiki
PT Usha Education
Specific details about PT Usha’s formal academic education have not been extensively documented in public sources. She received a government scholarship of Rs. 250 from the Government of Kerala during her teenage years, which supported her early athletic training. Her primary education focused on athletic development rather than traditional academics, as she showed deep interest in sports during her adolescence.
Early Life
PT Usha was born on June 27, 1964, in a low-income farming family in Koothali village near Payyoli in Kozhikode district, Kerala. Her parents, E.P.M. Paithal and T.V. Lakshmi, raised her amidst challenging circumstances marked by severe poverty. During childhood, Usha faced both financial hardship and health struggles that paradoxically made her stronger and more determined.
She grew up in Payyoli, a small village that would later become synonymous with her legendary athletic achievements. Despite the difficulties of her early years, Usha showed a natural inclination toward physical activity and sports. Her family’s modest means could not dampen her spirit or ambition, and she received encouragement through the government scholarship that recognized her potential.
Usha’s breakthrough came when legendary coach O.M. Nambiar spotted her talent and began training her systematically. This mentorship transformed her from a village girl with raw athletic ability into a world-class sprinter. The combination of natural talent, grinding poverty as motivation, and expert coaching created the foundation for her historic career.
PT Usha Profession
PT Usha is a retired professional track and field athlete who specialized in sprinting events including 100m, 200m, 400m, 400m hurdles, and relay races. During her active career from 1979 to 2000, she represented India at the Olympics, Asian Games, Asian Championships, and World Championships. She was particularly renowned for her performances in the 400m hurdles, where she came within 1/100th of a second of winning India’s first Olympic medal in women’s athletics.
After retirement from competitive athletics, Usha transitioned into sports administration and education. She founded the Usha School of Athletics in Koyilandy, Kerala, to train and encourage young girls in athletics, particularly those from underprivileged backgrounds. Currently, she serves as President of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA), a position she assumed in 2022, making her the first Olympian and first woman to hold this prestigious post.
Additionally, she serves as a member of the Rajya Sabha, the upper house of India’s Parliament. Her professional roles encompass sports governance, policy-making, athlete development, and parliamentary duties related to sports and youth affairs.
PT Usha Career Journey
PT Usha’s athletic career began in 1979 when she was identified by coach O.M. Nambiar and began systematic training. She quickly rose through the ranks of Indian athletics, establishing herself as a force in sprinting and hurdles events. Her international debut came at the 1980 Moscow Olympics, though she did not advance beyond the early rounds.
Her breakthrough year was 1982 when she won silver medals at the Asian Games in Delhi. This was followed by an extraordinary performance at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, where she reached the final of the 400m hurdles—the first Indian woman to reach an Olympic athletics final. In a heart-wrenching finish, she finished fourth, missing the bronze medal by just 1/100th of a second (clocking 55.42 seconds compared to the bronze medalist’s 55.43 seconds).
Usha reached the peak of her success in 1985 at the Asian Track & Field Meet in Jakarta, where she won five gold medals in 100m, 200m, 400m, 400m hurdles, and 4x400m relay, plus a bronze in 4x100m relay. This performance earned her the title “Sprint Queen of Asia” and cemented her legendary status.
At the 1986 Seoul Asian Games, she won four gold medals and one silver medal, further establishing her dominance in Asian athletics. She continued competing at the highest levels through the late 1980s and 1990s, participating in World Championships and setting multiple national records.
In 1998, her relay team set a national record in 4x100m relay, clocking 44.43 seconds—a record that stood for nearly two decades. Throughout her career, Usha won a total of 4 gold and 7 silver medals at the Asian Games, along with 5 gold and 1 bronze at the Asian Championships.
After retiring from competitive athletics, Usha founded the Usha School of Athletics in Koyilandy, Kerala, dedicated to training young athletes, especially girls from economically disadvantaged backgrounds. The school has produced numerous national and international athletes, continuing her legacy of excellence.
In 2022, PT Usha was elected as President of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA), becoming the first Olympian and the first woman to hold this position. However, her tenure has been marked by controversy, with 12 members of the IOA Executive Council accusing her of “autocratic” and “dictatorial” leadership in 2024. Allegations include unilaterally dissolving the Ethics Commission, financial mismanagement concerns, and refusing to remove the CEO despite council demands.
Usha has denied these allegations, calling them “malicious and false,” and has counter-accused some council members of financial irregularities. As of January 2026, she continues to serve as IOA President and Rajya Sabha member while navigating these administrative challenges.
PT Usha Movies and TV Shows
PT Usha has not appeared in traditional movies or television shows as an actress. However, her life story has been the subject of documentaries, biographical features, and inspirational content celebrating her athletic achievements. She has made numerous television appearances as a guest on sports programs, talk shows, and national broadcasts honoring her contributions to Indian athletics.
PT Usha Controversies
PT Usha’s tenure as President of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) has been marked by significant controversy since 2022. In September 2024, 12 members of the IOA Executive Council wrote to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) official Jerome Poivey, alleging that Usha’s leadership was “autocratic” and “dictatorial”. The controversy centered on her refusal to remove Raghuram Iyer from the position of IOA CEO during a council meeting, despite demands from council members.
In January 2025, IOA Ethics Commission member Rajlaxmi Deo filed a complaint with the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, stating that Usha had dissolved the legally appointed Ethics Commission of the IOA, which had been ratified by the General Body. Deo wrote that “the principles of good governance, transparency, accountability, as embodied in the Olympic Charter and the Sports Code, have been violated repeatedly by the President IOA, flouting all norms of democratic behaviour”.
The Ethics Commission had received a complaint from an Indian Gymnastic Union (IGU) faction against Usha for allegedly “interfering” in its election process in “blatant violation of the IOA constitution and IOC charter”. In response to this complaint, Usha dissolved the Ethics Commission and constituted a nomination committee to nominate a new one.
Usha defended her actions, calling the allegations “malicious and false,” and stated they were intended to undermine her leadership and collective efforts to advance Indian sports. She counter-accused IOA Treasurer Sahdev Yadav and Finance Committee members of mismanaging IOA funds, alleging they secretly wrote off large sums of money owed to the organization. She also highlighted other irregularities including unauthorized use of IOA’s PAN card by an ad hoc volleyball committee and granting affiliation to a taekwondo federation not recognized by global bodies.
PT Usha Personal Life
PT Usha married V Srinivasan on April 26, 1991, in an arranged marriage. Srinivasan was her distant relative from the Vengali tharavad in Kuttikkad, Ponnani. At the time of their marriage, Srinivasan was 31 years old and working as an inspector in the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF). The couple settled together and Srinivasan remained by Usha’s side throughout her illustrious sporting and later political career.
After retiring from competitive athletics, Usha dedicated herself to training the next generation through the Usha School of Athletics in Koyilandy, Kerala. She maintained a relatively private personal life while fulfilling her public roles as IOA President and Rajya Sabha member. Her son, Dr. Vignesh Ujjwal, specialized in sports medicine and works as a doctor at the Usha School of Athletics.
On August 25, 2025, her son Dr. Vignesh Ujjwal married Krishna, daughter of Ashok Kumar and Shini, in a lavish ceremony at Le Meridien Hotel in Kochi. The event was attended by prominent figures from sports, politics, and film, including boxing champion Mary Kom and Rajya Sabha colleague John Brittas. Usha expressed joy at her son’s arranged marriage during the celebrations.
Tragedy struck the family on January 30, 2026, when V Srinivasan collapsed at their residence in Thikkodi Perumalpuram around 1 AM. He was rushed to a nearby private hospital but could not be saved, passing away at age 64. Usha was not at home during the incident, as she was attending a parliamentary session, and was on her way home when the news broke.
PT Usha Husband News
PT Usha’s husband, V Srinivasan, passed away on January 30, 2026, at the age of 64. He collapsed at their residence in Thikkodi Perumalpuram, Kozhikode, around 1 AM and was immediately rushed to a nearby private hospital. Despite medical efforts, he could not be revived.
Srinivasan was a retired Deputy Superintendent of Police (Deputy SP) with the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF). He was the son of Narayanan and Sarojini of the Vengali tharavad in Kuttikkad, Ponnani. He married PT Usha in 1991 in an arranged marriage, and they had been together for 35 years at the time of his death.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tribute to Srinivasan following his death, acknowledging his support to PT Usha throughout her illustrious career. Funeral arrangements were pending as of January 30, 2026. Srinivasan is survived by his wife PT Usha and their son Dr. Vignesh Ujjwal.
PT Usha Family
PT Usha Children
PT Usha has one son, Dr. Vignesh Ujjwal, who was born after her marriage to V Srinivasan in 1991. Dr. Ujjwal specialized in sports medicine and currently works as a doctor at the Usha School of Athletics, the institution founded by his mother in Koyilandy, Kerala.
On August 25, 2025, Dr. Vignesh Ujjwal married Krishna, daughter of Ashok Kumar and Shini, in an arranged marriage ceremony held at Le Meridien Hotel in Kochi. The wedding was attended by prominent personalities from sports, politics, and entertainment, including Olympic boxer Mary Kom and Rajya Sabha member John Brittas. PT Usha expressed happiness about her son’s marriage during the celebrations.
Dr. Ujjwal continues his father V Srinivasan’s legacy of supporting PT Usha’s mission of nurturing young athletic talent through the family’s sports institution. As of January 2026, specific information about whether PT Usha has grandchildren has not been publicly disclosed.