Archive · 28 Sep 2026
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.
- When
- Monday, September 28, 2026.
- Where
- The Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan.
- Why
- Ramraj pursued a fast time and surpassed the previous national record of 55.42 seconds.
- 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
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
