30/09/2026
Three races. Three medals. One historic record.
Vithya Ramraj has had quite a run at the 2026 Asian Games in Nagoya.
It started with silver in the mixed 4x400m relay, where her late surge helped India finish second in 3:14.46.
Four days later, she stepped onto the track for the 400m hurdles.
She wasn't chasing a medal. She was chasing a number: 54 seconds.
She clocked 54.75 seconds, won bronze and — more importantly — broke PT Usha's 42-year-old national record of 55.42 seconds.
And then came the relay.
On Tuesday, Vithya was part of the Indian women's 4x400m relay team alongside Kiran Pahal, Machettira Poovamma and Prachi. The quartet clocked 3:29.69 to win gold, giving India its first athletics gold of the Games.
So Vithya leaves Nagoya with:
🥇 Gold — Women's 4x400m relay
🥈 Silver — Mixed 4x400m relay
🥉 Bronze — Women's 400m hurdles
🏆 New national record — 54.75 seconds
And perhaps the most interesting part?
She says she wasn't chasing the medals at all. She was chasing her own time.
[42 years after PT Usha, Vithya Ramraj finally rewrites India’s 400m hurdles record]
