PT Usha Hails Vithya Ramraj’s Asian Games Bronze As 42-Year-Old Record Falls In Nagoya

Nagoya, Sep 28: Legendary Indian athlete P T Usha on Monday congratulated Vithya Ramraj after the hurdler broke her 42-year-old national record in the women’s 400m hurdles at the Asian Games here.

Vithya Ramraj clocked a personal best of 54.75 seconds to win the bronze medal and beat Usha’s national mark of 55.42 seconds, which had stood since the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics.

Usha, one of India’s greatest track and field athletes, expressed her happiness at seeing the next generation surpass a record that had remained untouched for more than four decades.

“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.

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

Usha said the true value of an athletic record lies not merely in how long it remains unbeaten, but in the inspiration it provides to those who follow.

“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,” she said.

“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,” Usha added.

Ramraj’s performance also earned her a place on the Asian Games podium. Mariam Kareem of the UAE won gold with a time of 54.31 seconds, while Kazakhstan’s Adelina Zems claimed silver in 54.58 seconds.

The 54.75-second effort marked a major milestone in Ramraj’s career and Indian athletics, as she combined a record-breaking performance with an Asian Games medal.

Usha’s record had remained a benchmark in Indian women’s 400m hurdles for decades. Ramraj’s achievement now opens a new chapter in the event and gives the next generation of Indian athletes a fresh national mark to chase.