Vithya Ramraj Shatters PT Usha's Record at Asian Games, Inspires Future Athletes
Historic Achievement at the Asian Games
Indian athlete Vithya Ramraj has made headlines at the ongoing Asian Games in Japan by breaking the long-standing women's 400m hurdles record previously held by the legendary PT Usha. Expressing her joy over this accomplishment, Vithya hopes her success will motivate young athletes to pursue sports with greater confidence. She shared her thoughts during a felicitation event hosted by the Tamil Nadu Sports Minister Aadhav Arjuna, honoring athletes who brought pride to India with their medal wins. Other medalists present included Vishal TK, G Kamalini, Baranica Elangovan, and Abinaya Rajarajan.
Medal Wins and Record-Breaking Performance
At the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, Vithya secured three medals: a gold in the women's 4x400m relay, a silver in the mixed 4x400m relay, and a bronze in the women's 400m hurdles. In the hurdles event, she not only clinched the bronze but also set a new national record, clocking a personal best of 54.75 seconds, surpassing PT Usha's previous record of 55.42 seconds, which had stood since the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics.
Vithya's Reflections on Her Journey
In her conversation, Vithya expressed her pride in breaking the record, stating, "I am so happy. I am so proud of it because everywhere Iā in the last three years, I did not break the record; I equalled it. But my mind was saying, 'When are you going to break it?'" She emphasized the significance of her achievement, saying, "After everyone said it, I created history, I think, as Vithya Ramraj. So, I'm happy about that."
Importance of Support for Athletes
Vithya acknowledged the crucial role of support from the state government and the Tamil Nadu Olympic Association in her success. She remarked, "Without support, we cannot go to this much higher stage. We want to perform, but without support... So, the State Government support was so good. I was in the Elite scheme. In that scheme, I utilized it. Then Japan was so good. We went to Tsukuba University, it was so nice. The experience was happy."
Inspiring the Next Generation
Reflecting on her newfound fame on social media after breaking PT Usha's record, Vithya noted how her visibility has increased significantly. "Before, no one knew Vithya Ramraj. Now, if I go anywhere, people see me and say, 'Yeah, you are Vithya Ramraj.'" She hopes her achievements will inspire young people to engage in sports and believe in their potential. Vithya also mentioned the recognition of coaches by the state government, highlighting the importance of their role alongside athletes.
Support from Political Figures
On receiving encouragement from Tamil Nadu's Leader of Opposition, Udhayanidhi Stalin, she expressed her happiness, stating, "I was so happy. He is a big fan, not only in Tamil Nadu. After he posted a photo on Instagram, I got more views and more followers. So, I am so happy."