Vithya Ramraj Sets New National Record in 400m Hurdles at Asian Games 2026

PT Usha Celebrates Vithya Ramraj's Historic Achievement

Renowned Indian athlete PT Usha extended her congratulations to Vithya Ramraj after the latter shattered a long-standing national record in the women's 400m hurdles during the Asian Games 2026 held in Aichi-Nagoya.

Vithya Ramraj Wins Bronze with Record-Breaking Time

On Monday, Vithya Ramraj secured the bronze medal in the women's 400m hurdles, achieving a personal best of 54.75 seconds and breaking a national record that had been in place since 1984.

She successfully cleared all ten hurdles, finishing third in the final and surpassing the previous national record of 55.42 seconds, which was set by the legendary PT Usha at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics. Vithya had matched this record in 2023 before exceeding it at the Asian Games.

PT Usha's Inspiring Words

PT Usha, who currently serves as the President of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA), expressed her pride in Vithya Ramraj's accomplishment, emphasizing that records exist to be broken and that they should inspire future generations.

She stated, "Congratulations Vithya!! Records are meant to be broken, and there is no greater reward for an athlete than to see the next generation go beyond the boundaries we once set. Vithya Ramraj breaking my 43-year-old national record in the 400m hurdles is an incredibly special moment for me. As athletes, we compete to challenge ourselves, to push limits and, ultimately, to leave the sport better than we found it. When a young athlete comes along and surpasses a milestone that has stood for decades, it is a moment of pride—not just for the athlete, but for the sport itself. The greatest legacy of a record is not how long it stands, but how it inspires the next athlete to dream of going beyond it."

Final Standings: Women's 400m Hurdles

In the women's 400m hurdles event, Vithya Ramraj earned the bronze medal, while Mariam Kareem from the UAE took home the gold with a Games record time of 54.31 seconds. Kazakhstan's Adelina Zems secured the silver medal with a time of 54.58 seconds.