PT Usha with OM Nambiar| Photo: Twitter|PTUshaOfficial
Kozhikode: Popular sports coach OM Nambiar passed away on Thursday. He was 89.
OM Nambiar is the man who nurtured one of the greatest athletes in PT Usha.
In 2021, the nation honoured him with Padma Shri. He also won Dronacharya award in 1985.
Nambiar was with Indian Air Force for 15 years and retired as a Sergeant in 1970.
He got a coaching diploma from the NIS-Patiala in 1968 and joined the Kerala Sports Council in 1971. He was tasked with finding talented athletes in the state.
Besides Usha, some of the international medal-winning athletes he coached include Shiny Wilson (four-time Olympian and 1985 Asia Championships gold winner in 800m) and Vandana Rao.
An Olympic medal for his most famous ward -- Usha -- was Nambiar's "lifetime dream".
He moulded Usha into one of India's finest athletes during his mentorship from 1977 to 1990.
It was in 1977 when Usha won a race in the selection trial of a sports school at Kannur that she came under the tutelage of Nambiar.
It was also Nambiar who prepared Usha for 400m hurdles in 1984. She had been a 100m, 200m and 400m runner earlier.
Usha also won four gold medals in the 1986 Asian Games (in 200m, 400m, 400m hurdles and 4x400m relay) under Nambiar’s training.
(with added inputs from PTI)
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