1 hr ago
Vithya Ramraj Breaks PT Usha Record, Wins Asian Games Bronze
Vithya Ramraj won a bronze medal in the 400m hurdles at the 2026 Asian Games.
She ran the race in 54.75 seconds, which was the fastest time of her career.
Her time broke a national record held by famous Indian runner PT Usha.
Usha had set the previous record of 55.42 seconds at the 1984 Olympics.
The record had lasted for 42 years.
Mariam Kareem of the UAE won gold, and Adelina Zems of Kazakhstan won silver.
Ramraj said she focused on running as fast as possible rather than thinking about the medal.
She also won a silver medal earlier as part of India’s mixed relay team.
Vithya Ramraj won bronze in the women’s 400m hurdles at the Asian Games 2026 with a personal-best time of 54.75 seconds.
Ramraj broke PT Usha’s 55.42-second national record, set at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics and held for 42 years.
UAE’s Mariam Kareem won gold in a Games-record 54.31 seconds, while Kazakhstan’s Adelina Zems took silver in 54.58 seconds.
India’s Anu Raghavan finished fifth with a personal-best 55.88 seconds, while Ramraj earned her second medal after the mixed 4x400m relay silver.
Avinash Sable finished fourth in the men’s 3000m steeplechase, and Indian athletes Santosh Kumar Tamilarasan and Seema Kaliramna also missed the podium in their finals.
- Who
- India’s Vithya Ramraj, along with competitors Mariam Kareem, Adelina Zems and Anu Raghavan.
- What
- Ramraj won bronze in the women’s 400m hurdles and broke PT Usha’s 42-year-old national record.
- Where
- The Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan.
- When
- Monday, September 28, 2026.
- Why
- Ramraj pursued a fast time and surpassed the previous national record of 55.42 seconds.
Key facts
- Event
- Women’s 400m hurdles final, Asian Games 2026
- Vithya Ramraj’s time
- 54.75 seconds
- Previous national record
- 55.42 seconds, set by PT Usha in 1984
- Gold medal
- Mariam Kareem, United Arab Emirates — 54.31 seconds
- Silver medal
- Adelina Zems, Kazakhstan — 54.58 seconds
- Ramraj’s other medal
- Silver in the mixed 4x400m relay
- Anu Raghavan’s result
- Fifth place with a personal-best 55.88 seconds
Quotes
Vithya Ramraj
Indian 400m hurdles runner who won bronze at the Asian Games
“Everyone has been asking me because I had not gone under 55 seconds for three years. My coach Nehpal Singh Rathore told me to go fast, then maintain it through the sixth hurdle. From the sixth hurdle to the finish line, it was all out.”
theprint.in
telegraphindia.com
“Medal is in our hands, but time is not. This race will not come tomorrow or yesterday. Today is our day, so I was going for the timing, not the medal.”
theprint.in
telegraphindia.com
Sources
Vithya Ramraj Breaks PT Usha's 42-Year-Old Record, Wins Bronze In Asian Games 400m Hurdles
Ramraj wins bronze in women’s 400m hurdles, no medal for Sable in 3000m steeplechase
Vithya Ramraj ends 42-year wait, breaks PT Usha’s national record for Asian Games bronze - Telegraph India
Vithya Ramraj breaks 42-year-old national record of PT Usha to win bronze
Related news
Gulveer Singh Wins 1500m Silver as India Adds Medals
India Wins Asian Games Relay Silver, 10,000m Bronze
Tanya Chaudhary Breaks Record As Avinash Sable Returns
Tanya Chaudhary Sets Hammer Record, Eyes Asian Games Gold
Seema Ends India’s 16-Year Asian Games 10,000m Wait
Harita Bhadra Wins Asian Games Bronze in 200m Sprint
