PAYYOLI, May 22: The BBC Sports will telecast shortly a 45-minute film depicting the rise of PT Usha from an ordinary village girl to one of the best women hurdlers in the world. The shooting of the short film which is categorised under BBC's `Olympic Solidarity' programmes was completed here at Usha's residence.

The film which was shot by the TransWorld International on behalf of the British Broadcasting Corporation Television, will also be shown on Star Sports and DD-Metro as per the BBC's telecast deal with these networks. The programme has covered almost all major events of Usha's life and career including the fourth-place winning performance at 1984 Los Angeles Olympics.

Moments from her spectacular shows in the Asian Track and Field meets at Jakarta and Kuwait have also been included in the film.

Besides filming the sprint queen's personal moments with her husband Sreenivasan and son Vignesh Ujwal at her Payyoli residence, the crew have also covered her professional life at Thiruvananthapuram where she is presently on deputation as the Officer on Special Duty at the State Sports Directorate. Usha's physical training programme has also been extensively covered by the television people.

The primary objective behind producing a film on Usha, was to show to the world how a developing country like India has been able to produce sportspersons of world standards despite all sorts of adversities, according to a TWI official. Usha's life right from her school days has been covered, with the help of old photographs and rare footage from Doordarshan archives.

Though Usha is presently busy with her preparations for the National Games, she is yet to take the final decision on whether to take part in the meet or not. ``I will compete only if my timing in the 100 m shows a fantastic improvement,'' says she. ``The physical training will not go waste even though I decide against participating in the Games. It has helped me to keep my fitness.'' However, the State Sports Council is determined to persuade the Olympian to spearhead the Kerala challenge at Bangalore.

Usha hopes to accomplish her dream of starting a sprint academy after her retirement from the competitions. The one-time prima donna of Indian sports has been nominated as a member of the Central Human Resources Ministry's advisory committee on the celebrations of India's 50th year of independence. The Prakash Ambedkar-chaired committee has former Indian cricket captain Kapil Dev and Mamta Banerjee too as members.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.