Coimbatore-born Indian athlete Vithya Ramraj made history at the 2026 Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan, on September 28, by winning bronze in the women’s 400m hurdles with a time of 54.75 seconds.
The 28-year-old surpassed the 42-year-old national record of 55.42 seconds set by P.T. Usha at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics. The achievement marks a significant milestone in Indian athletics, coming three years after Ramraj equalled Usha’s record at the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou.
A Record-Breaking Finish
Ramraj clocked 54.75 seconds in the women’s 400m hurdles final, finishing third to secure the bronze medal and set a new national record. The United Arab Emirates’ Mariam Kareem won gold in 54.31 seconds, setting a Games record, while Kazakhstan’s Adelina Zems claimed silver in 54.58 seconds. Ramraj’s performance improved on the previous Indian record by 0.67 seconds, ending a 42-year wait for a new national benchmark in the event.
The athlete’s reaction reflected the significance of the moment as she celebrated her achievement on the track. Speaking after the race, Ramraj credited her coach’s advice for helping her focus on her performance. “When my coach said you have it in you to go (under) 55 seconds, I never believed it. But today I believed it. My coach is with me, my God is with me,” she said, as reported by The Indian Express.
PT Usha also congratulated her, saying “records are meant to be broken”.
Congratulations Vithya!!
— P.T. USHA (@PTUshaOfficial) September 28, 2026
Records are meant to be broken & 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. pic.twitter.com/zkmgDjvMfY
From Equal Record To New Benchmark
Ramraj’s record-breaking performance completes a journey that began at the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou, China. There, she clocked 55.42 seconds in the women’s 400m hurdles, equalling the national record set by Usha at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics. The mark had remained untouched for four decades, making it one of the longest-standing records in Indian athletics. Ramraj’s latest performance in Nagoya, Japan, finally took her past that benchmark, establishing a new national record of 54.75 seconds.
The achievement also carries significance because of Usha’s place in Indian athletics. At the 1984 Olympics, she narrowly missed a bronze medal in the 400m hurdles, finishing fourth in 55.42 seconds. Her record stood as a benchmark for generations of Indian athletes. Following Ramraj’s achievement, Usha, who is now the president of the Indian Olympic Association, congratulated the hurdler and reflected on the importance of records inspiring future athletes. She said the greatest legacy of a record lies not in how long it remains unbeaten but in how it motivates the next generation to surpass it.
Ramraj’s performance was also part of a broader contribution to India’s athletics campaign at the Games. She had earlier won a silver medal as part of the Indian mixed 4x400m relay team. Another Indian athlete, Anu Raghavan, finished fifth in the women’s 400m hurdles final with a personal best of 55.88 seconds. Together, their performances highlighted the progress of Indian women in track and field and the growing competitiveness of the country’s athletes at the continental level.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
Vithya Ramraj’s achievement is a reminder that sporting milestones are built through years of discipline, perseverance and the support of coaches, families and sporting institutions. Her journey from equalling a record in 2023 to surpassing it in 2026 highlights the importance of creating an environment where athletes can continue to improve without being defined solely by medals or rankings.
Usha’s response also reflects how sporting legacies can inspire future generations rather than remain tied to the past. Celebrating Ramraj’s achievement alongside the record she broke allows us to recognise both the athlete who set the benchmark and the one who moved beyond it. Indian athletics can build on such moments by ensuring that young athletes, particularly women, have access to quality coaching, facilities and opportunities to compete.
What do you think Indian athletics needs to do to help more athletes like Vithya Ramraj achieve their potential and create new milestones?
Also Read: From National Records to Repeat Podiums: India’s Asian Games Medal Tally Hits 39
