Indian hurdler Vithya Ramraj has rewritten a piece of Indian athletics history after breaking legendary athlete PT Usha’s 4 decades old national record in the women’s 400m hurdles at the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan.
Vithya clocked an impressive 54.75 seconds in the final to win the bronze medal, improving Usha’s long-standing record of 55.42 seconds by 0.67 seconds. Usha had set the mark at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, and it remained untouched for more than four decades.
The achievement was particularly significant for Vithya Ramraj, who had already come close to the record at the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou. She clocked 55.42 seconds in the heats to equal Usha’s record, missing the chance to surpass it by just 0.01 seconds. Three years later, she finally went beyond the mark in the Asian Games 2026 in Japan.
Vithya Ramraj’s latest performance also marked her second consecutive Asian Games bronze in the women’s 400m hurdles. However, this time, her record-breaking time was the biggest highlight of her race.
After the win, Usha congratulated Ramraj, calling it a special moment to see the next generation surpass a milestone that had stood for decades.
For Vithya, the historic run also reflected her determination to keep pushing past the 55-second barrier. Her coach, Nehpal Singh Rathore, had encouraged her to focus on the timing rather than the medal, advice that paid off as she produced a personal best of 54.75 seconds.
With Usha’s 42-year-old mark now behind her, Vithya Ramraj has established a new national benchmark in the women’s 400m hurdles, adding another memorable chapter to India’s athletics history.
Source: The India Awaaz
