Indian hurdler Vithya Ramraj dedicated her historic Asian Games bronze medal in the women’s 400m hurdles to her twin sister Vidya, after shattering PT Usha's long-standing national record with a blistering time of 54.75 seconds. The 28-year-old athlete from Coimbatore emotionalized her podium achievement by honoring her sister's unwavering support and training partnership throughout her journey to the top of Asian athletics.
NAGOYA — In one of the most emotional and historic moments on the track at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, Indian track star Vithya Ramraj clinched the bronze medal in the women’s 400m hurdles while rewriting Indian athletics history. Clocking a personal best of 54.75 seconds, Ramraj finally broke the iconic 55.42-second national record set by legendary sprinter P.T. Usha at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics—a record that had stood unbroken for over four decades.
Following her historic run, an emotional Vithya dedicated her record-shattering performance and podium finish to her identical twin sister, Vidya, crediting her constant companion and fellow athlete as the foundation of her success.
Breaking a Historic Legacy
P.T. Usha’s 55.42-second mark from the 1984 Los Angeles Games had long been revered as one of the most stubborn records in Indian sports history. Having previously equaled Usha's record at the 2023 Hangzhou Asian Games, Vithya entered the final in Nagoya focused on establishing sole ownership of the national mark.
Executing a technically precise race across all 10 hurdles, Vithya maintained strong pace through the final bend. UAE’s Mariam Kareem took the gold medal with a Games-record time of 54.31 seconds, while Kazakhstan's Adelina Zems claimed silver in 54.58 seconds. Vithya's 54.75-second finish secured her third place, marking a massive leap forward for Indian hurdle sprinting on the continental stage.
Indian Olympic Association (IOA) President P.T. Usha herself was present in the stadium to witness her long-standing record being surpassed. Usha warmly embraced Vithya after the race, symbolically passing the torch to a new generation of Indian track talent.
Dedicated to a Twin Sister's Bond
Speaking to reporters following her victory lap, Vithya made a heartfelt dedication to her twin sister, Vidya. Growing up in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, as daughters of a truck driver, the twin sisters began their sporting journey playing field hockey before transitioning together to track and field events during their school years.
"This medal and this national record belong as much to my sister Vidya as they do to me," Vithya stated following the race. "We have run together, trained together, and pushed each other through injuries, doubts, and sacrifices. When I am on the track, I feel her strength with me. She is my biggest motivation, my training partner, and my best friend. Without her backing and our shared dream, I would not be standing on this podium today."
The bond between the sisters has been central to Vithya's athletic progress. Both trained under coach Nehpal Singh Rathore at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Chennai, maintaining a rigorous regimen that laid the groundwork for international honors.
Strong Overall Showing for India
Vithya’s record-breaking bronze was part of a strong overall presence for India in the event. Fellow Indian runner Anu Raghavan also delivered an outstanding performance in the final, setting a new personal best of 55.88 seconds to finish fifth overall.
The 400m hurdles bronze marked Vithya's second medal of the Games, adding to the silver medal she earned earlier in the competition as part of India's 4x400m mixed relay team. Expressing her gratitude to the Athletics Federation of India (AFI), state sports bodies, and central government development initiatives, Vithya highlighted the importance of institutional financial support and top-tier training infrastructure in preparing athletes for continental competitions.
With her name now firmly etched at the top of India’s track and field record books, Vithya Ramraj turns her sights toward future international benchmarks, with her sister Vidya right by her side as both athlete and inspiration.