Vithya Ramraj Breaks 42 Years PT Usha's National Record

Indian hurdler Vithya Ramraj broke 42 years  PT Usha’s national record in the women’s 400m hurdles at the Asian Games 2026, clocking 54.75 seconds to win the bronze medal in Nagoya, Japan.

The 28-year-old is the first Indian athlete to improve Usha's 55.42 second mark set in Los Angeles Olympics in 1984. Vithya achieved the same score in the Asian Games held in Hangzhou in 2023, but she had to wait for three years for this historic score to be beaten.

Vithya took her spot on the podium behind the United Arab Emirates' Mariam Kareem, who set a Games best in her 54.31 seconds. Adelina Zems of Kazakhstan won silver in the event with a time of 54.58 seconds.

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Vithya Ramraj’s Record-Breaking Run Earns Asian Games Bronze

Vithya arrived at the finish line and eagerly watched for her time to be displayed on the scoreboard. On seeing 54.75 seconds, she jumped and started dancing, as a dance routine had been taught to her by her twin sister, Nithya.

Usha, who was present in the VIP arena, stood up to applaud the Indian athlete. She described the moment as special, noting that records are meant to be broken and celebrating the next generation of athletes pushing beyond previous achievements.

Vithya said her coach, Nehpal Singh Rathore, had long believed she could run below 55 seconds, although she had doubted herself. She added that achieving the timing, rather than breaking the record itself, had been her primary goal.

The athlete, whose father is a truck driver from Coimbatore, also dedicated her medal to her twin sister, who is currently injured and has continued to support her. Vithya had suffered an ankle fracture in 2025 and said she was particularly concerned about injuries during the rainy conditions in Nagoya.

The bronze medal and the record setting achievement at Asian Games 2026 has been a great moment for Indian sports, ending a prolonged period of Indian sports' record that was set at Asian Games 1984.