42 Years After PT Usha, Vithya Ramraj Rewrites India’s 400m Hurdles Record

Vithya Ramraj has produced a remarkable run at the 2026 Asian Games in Nagoya, returning with three medals and a historic national record to her name.

Her campaign began with a silver medal in the mixed 4×400m relay, where a strong late surge helped India finish second in 3:14.46.

Four days later, Ramraj lined up for the women’s 400m hurdles. Her target was not simply a medal, but a time under 54 seconds. She clocked 54.75 seconds to win bronze and, in the process, broke PT Usha’s 42-year-old national record of 55.42 seconds, set in 1984.

The historic run was followed by another golden moment in the women’s 4×400m relay. Ramraj teamed up with Kiran Pahal, Machettira Poovamma and Prachi as the Indian quartet clocked 3:29.69 to claim gold.

The victory also gave India its first athletics gold of the Games.

Ramraj thus leaves Nagoya with three medals and a new national record: Gold — Women’s 4×400m relay ,Silver — Mixed 4×400m relay,Bronze — Women’s 400m hurdles ,National record — 54.75 seconds

What makes her achievement even more inspiring is her approach to the competition. Rather than focusing solely on medals, Ramraj was determined to improve her own timing—and that pursuit saw her surpass one of Indian athletics’ most enduring records.

At 54.75 seconds, Vithya Ramraj has now etched her name alongside, and beyond, a record that stood for 42 years.