Vithya Ramraj clinched bronze in the women’s 400m hurdles at the Asian Games in Nagoya with a 54.75‑second run, shattering PT Usha’s 42‑year‑old national record.
That time cut the old mark by 0.67 seconds, turning the race into a sprint‑through‑the‑hurdles finish; earlier in Hangzhou she had clocked 55.42 to equal the record, a feat that earned her bronze there as well.
The 27‑year‑old grinned after crossing the line, saying the 0.67‑second drop felt like a rung higher on a ladder she’d been climbing for years. She told reporters, “Every hurdle is a dream I keep chasing.”
Anu Raghavan, also on the team, finished fifth in 55.88, a personal best that underscores the depth of India’s 400m talent. Together, the twins became the first pair to represent India at the Asian Games, a story that adds extra weight to Vithya’s record.
With the record under her belt, Ramraj now lines up for the Paris 2024 Olympic relay squad and eyes a potential individual spot. The bronze also adds to her Asian Games tally—bronze in 2023 Hangzhou, silver in the mixed 4x400 relay, and now another individual medal.
The next challenge will be the 2026 Commonwealth Games, where India will aim to field a full 4x400 relay squad and keep the momentum from Nagoya.