Vithya Ramraj Shatters PT Usha's Record with Bronze at Asian Games 2026

Historic Achievement for Indian Athlete

By Vipul Kashyap

Aichi-Nagoya [Japan], September 28: Indian runner Vithya Ramraj expressed her joy after securing a bronze medal in the women's 400m hurdles at the Asian Games 2026, while also breaking the long-standing national record held by the legendary PT Usha.

Ramraj was thrilled to clock a personal best of 54.75 seconds, finishing under the 56-second mark, a feat she never anticipated. She eagerly mentioned her desire to celebrate with her mother's cooking upon returning home.

In the final race, Ramraj successfully cleared all ten hurdles, achieving a remarkable performance that earned her the bronze medal in Aichi-Nagoya.

She surpassed the previous national record of 55.42 seconds, which had been set by PT Usha during the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics. Earlier this year, Vithya had matched that record.

The gold medal was claimed by Mariam Kareem from the UAE, who set a Games record with a time of 54.31 seconds, while Kazakhstan's Adelina Zems secured the silver with a time of 54.58 seconds.

Vithya's impressive time not only earned her a podium finish but also marked a significant milestone as she became the first Indian woman to break the 55.42-second barrier in the 400m hurdles, a record that stood for 42 years.