“Records are meant to be broken”: PT Usha hails Vithya Ramraj
Vithya Ramraj clinches Asian Games 2026 bronze and breaks PT Usha's 43-year-old national record in the 400m hurdles.
In a historic moment for Indian athletics, Vithya Ramraj has shattered a national record that had remained untouched for over four decades. Competing at the Asian Games 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, Ramraj delivered a stellar performance in the women's 400m hurdles to secure a bronze medal and rewrite the record books.
Ramraj clocked a remarkable personal best of 54.75 seconds, successfully clearing all ten hurdles to finish third in a highly competitive final. This feat marks the end of an era, as she surpassed the long-standing national record of 55.42 seconds set by the legendary PT Usha at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics.
A Legacy Passed to the Next Generation
The breaking of this 43-year-old milestone drew a heartfelt reaction from the woman who set it. PT Usha, who currently serves as the President of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA), expressed immense pride in the young athlete's achievement.
“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,” said PT Usha.
Usha further emphasized that the true purpose of a record is to act as a catalyst for future talent. She noted that seeing a young athlete surpass a decades-old milestone is a victory for the sport itself, stating that the greatest legacy of a record is how it inspires others to dream bigger.
Asian Games 400m Hurdles Final Results
While Ramraj's performance was a landmark for India, the race saw intense competition from across the continent. The podium standings for the women's 400m hurdles were as follows:
- Gold: Mariam Kareem (UAE) – 54.31 seconds (Games Record)
- Silver: Adelina Zems (Kazakhstan) – 54.58 seconds
- Bronze: Vithya Ramraj (India) – 54.75 seconds (National Record)
Ramraj had previously come close to the mark in 2023 by equaling it, but her performance in Aichi-Nagoya finally propelled her past the legendary threshold set by Usha in 1984.