PT Usha Hails Vithya Ramraj’s Record-Breaking Asian Games Run

PT Usha congratulated Vithya Ramraj after the Indian hurdler broke the long-standing national record in the women’s 400m hurdles at the Asian Games, clocking 54.75 seconds to win bronze.

Ramraj’s personal-best performance bettered Usha’s previous national mark of 55.42 seconds, set at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics. The record had stood for 42 years, making Ramraj’s run a significant milestone for Indian athletics and the women’s 400m hurdles.

Usha, one of India’s most celebrated track and field athletes, said she took particular pride in seeing a younger athlete surpass a benchmark that had remained in place for decades.

Usha celebrates the next generation

“Records are meant to be broken, and there is no greater reward for an athlete than to see the next generation go beyond the boundaries we once set,” Usha said in a statement.

She described Ramraj’s achievement as an especially meaningful moment, saying that the national record being surpassed represented more than a change in the record books. For Usha, it showed the value of athletes continuing to challenge established standards.

“Vithya Ramraj breaking my 43-year-old national record in the 400m hurdles is an incredibly special moment for me,” Usha added.

Usha said that athletes compete not only to test themselves but also to push the limits of their event and leave the sport in a stronger position for those who follow. She called Ramraj’s run a point of pride for both the athlete and Indian athletics.

“As athletes, we compete to challenge ourselves, to push limits and, ultimately, to leave the sport better than we found it. When a young athlete comes along and surpasses a milestone that has stood for decades, it is a moment of pride — not just for the athlete, but for the sport itself,” Usha said.

Bronze medal adds to a landmark performance

Ramraj’s record-setting 54.75-second effort also secured her a place on the Asian Games podium. Mariam Kareem of the UAE won the gold medal in 54.31 seconds, while Adelina Zems of Kazakhstan claimed silver with 54.58 seconds.

The result underlined how close the medal race was, with Ramraj finishing behind the gold medallist by 0.44 seconds and the silver medallist by 0.17 seconds. Her time nevertheless carried added importance because it established a new Indian national standard in the event.

Usha said the lasting importance of a record lies in its ability to motivate future competitors rather than simply in the length of time it remains unbeaten. “The greatest legacy of a record is not how long it stands, but how it inspires the next athlete to dream of going beyond it,” she said.

For Ramraj, the Asian Games performance delivered both a personal best and a bronze medal. For Indian athletics, it brought an end to one of the country’s longest-standing women’s track records and set a new mark in the 400m hurdles.