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Vithya Ramraj Breaks P.T. Usha’s 42-Year-Old Record
Vithya Ramraj, 28, has broken P.T. Usha’s 42-year-old national record in the women’s 400m hurdles. At the 2026 Asian Games in Nagoya, she clocked 54.75 seconds to win bronze.
From a Sports Hostel in Erode to a National Record: Vithya Ramraj Makes History
A Dream That Started in Coimbatore
Vithya Ramraj, 28, grew up in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, in a modest family. Her father worked as a truck driver, while her mother supported the family.
Vithya and her twin sister, Nithya, were introduced to athletics after their school physical education teacher noticed their potential. Their mother later enrolled them at a sports hostel in Erode, where they could train and study with better facilities.
The Twins Who Made History
Vithya competes in the 400m hurdles, while Nithya is a hurdler who works with the Income Tax Department. In 2023, the sisters became the first twins to represent India in athletics at the Asian Games. At the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou, Vithya clocked 55.42 seconds in the 400m hurdles, equalling the national record set by P.T. Usha at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics.
Her Sister Stood By Her
Vithya's journey was not always easy. After struggling at the national camp, she considered giving up athletics. Her twin sister Nithya encouraged her to continue and supported her training expenses, including shoes, supplements, travel and accommodation. Vithya later secured a job with Indian Railways, while continuing her athletics career.
The Record Finally Falls
On 28 September 2026, at the Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan, Vithya finally went beyond the record she had matched three years earlier.
She completed the women's 400m hurdles in 54.75 seconds, winning the bronze medal and breaking P.T. Usha's 55.42-second national record by 0.67 seconds. She became the first Indian woman to run the event in under 55 seconds. The race was also Vithya's second medal at the 2026 Asian Games, after she helped India win silver in the mixed 4x400m relay.
“Focus on the Timing, Not the Medal”
Before the race, Vithya's coach told her to focus on the timing rather than the medal. She did exactly that.
Vithya ran 54.75 seconds, broke a record that had stood for more than four decades and finally achieved the goal she had been chasing since 2023. From a sports hostel in Erode to the Asian Games podium, Vithya Ramraj has now written her name into Indian athletics history.