HISTORY REWRITTEN IN AICHI-NAGOYA: Vithya Ramraj Shatters P.T. Usha’s Iconic 42-Year-Old 400m Hurdles Record to Win Asian Games Bronze

Indian hurdler Vithya Ramraj scripted a historic chapter in Indian athletics at the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, winning the bronze medal in the women’s 400m hurdles and breaking P.T. Usha’s long-standing national record.

A NEW CHAPTER IN INDIAN ATHLETICS! 🇮🇳🥉

Vithya Ramraj wins Bronze in the Women’s 400m Hurdles at #AsianGames2026, shattering legendary PT Usha's National Record in the process! A historic run that makes the nation proud.#Cheer4Bharat pic.twitter.com/IXCntDOoTH

— Dr Mansukh Mandaviya (@mansukhmandviya) September 28, 2026

The 27-year-old clocked an impressive 54.75 seconds to finish third on the podium, lowering the previous Indian record of 55.42 seconds, set by legendary athlete P.T. Usha at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics.

Indeed a great run by Vithya Ramraj! She has won the Bronze in the Women’s 400m hurdles at the Asian Games. Congratulations to Vithya. May she keep scaling new heights of success in the times to come: PM @narendramodi

— PMO India (@PMOIndia) September 28, 2026

Usha’s mark had remained untouched for more than four decades and had become one of the most enduring benchmarks in Indian women’s athletics.

Ramraj Rewrites 42-Year-Old Record

Ramraj had previously equalled Usha’s 55.42-second record during the heats at the 2023 Asian Games. Three years later, she finally surpassed the historic mark outright, improving by 0.67 seconds with her 54.75-second performance in Nagoya.

After seeing her record-breaking time on the stadium scoreboard, Ramraj celebrated on the track with a joyous dance, marking an emotional moment in her career.

Women’s 400m Hurdles Podium
🥇 Mariam Kareem (UAE) – 54.31s — New Games Record
🥈 Adelina Zems (Kazakhstan) – 54.58s — Personal Best
🥉 Vithya Ramraj (India) – 54.75s — New National Record

From Coimbatore to the Asian Games Podium

Born in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, Ramraj's journey to the national record has been shaped by determination and resilience. The daughter of a truck driver, she and her twin sister Nithya, who is also a hurdler, were encouraged by their mother to pursue athletics.

Her career also faced significant setbacks. A severe bout of COVID-19 and appendicitis surgery disrupted her bid to qualify for the Tokyo Olympics.

In 2022, Ramraj switched her focus from the flat 400m to the 400m hurdles under coach Nehpal Singh Rathore. The change has since transformed her career.

Her bronze medal in Nagoya adds to an impressive international record, including a silver medal in the mixed 4x400m relay at the 2026 Asian Games and multiple podium finishes from previous Asian Games.

With her 54.75-second run, Vithya Ramraj has now moved beyond one of Indian athletics' most iconic records and established a new benchmark for the next generation of Indian quarter-milers.