Vithya Ramraj Shatters PT Usha's 42-Year-Old National Record
Public Lokpal
September 29, 2026
Vithya Ramraj Shatters PT Usha's 42-Year-Old National Record
Indian athlete Vithya Ramraj etched her name in sporting history by breaking legendary sprinter PT Usha’s iconic national record during the Asian Games.
Competing in the women’s 400m hurdles, Vithya powered across the finish line with a stellar timing of 54.75 seconds to secure a hard-earned bronze medal.
This magnificent performance officially eclipsed PT Usha's legendary 55.42-second mark, which had stood unbroken for four decades since the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics.
Although Vithya had previously equalled Usha's long-standing record during the preliminary heats earlier in the competition, this stellar final run gave her sole ownership of the record books.
With the legendary "Payyoli Express" herself watching from the stands, Vithya's historic feat marked a profoundly symbolic and emotional passing of the torch in Indian track and field history, inspiring a new generation of athletes to chase greatness.