INDIA
Usha paid her last respects to the departed leader when Karunakaran's body was brought to the town hall here from Thiruvananthapuram today morning.
Senior Congress leader K Karunakaran's contribution towards the development of sports in Kerala will be remembered for ever, former sprint queen PT Usha said in Thrissur today.
Usha paid her last respects to the departed leader when Karunakaran's body was brought to the town hall here from Thiruvananthapuram today morning.
Despite his busy political life, Karunakaran found time to encourage sports and sportspersons, Usha said, adding that the great quality of the former chief minister was his ability to take decisions quickly.
Recalling her interactions with him, Usha said that after returning from the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics where she narrowly missed the bronze in 400m hurdles, Karunakaran had told her, "I will treat you as if you have won the medal." She was also given a cash prize of Rs1 lakh as encouragement, Usha said.
"Before participating in any major event I used to seek his blessings," the 'Payyoli Express,' as Usha was known, said.