Tamil film superstar Rajinikanth personally met Tamil Nadu athlete Vithya Ramraj in Chennai on 8 October 2026 to congratulate her on a historic triple-medal performance at the Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan. The meeting underscores the national attention Vithya has drawn following one of the most celebrated individual runs by an Indian track-and-field athlete in recent memory.

Who Was in the Room

According to sources, Vithya Ramraj's trainer Nehpal Singh and Chennai District Masters Athletic Association President M. Shenbagamoorthy were also present at the meeting. Rajinikanth, according to those present, praised Vithya for 'doing the country proud' and acknowledged the significance of her achievements on the Asian stage.

Notably, just a day before this meeting, Tamil actor Dhanush had also called on the athlete to congratulate her — a sign of the widespread admiration her Nagoya performance has generated across Tamil Nadu's film and cultural circles.

A Record That Stood for 42 Years

The centrepiece of Vithya's campaign at the Nagoya Asian Games was not just the medals — it was the demolition of a 42-year-old national record held by legendary sprinter PT Usha. Competing in the women's 400m hurdles, Vithya clocked a personal best of 54.75 seconds, surpassing Usha's previous national benchmark of 55.42 seconds by 0.67 seconds.

Usha had set that record at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, where she finished fourth in the final — a performance that became the stuff of Indian athletic folklore. That Vithya broke it while winning bronze at the Asian Games amplifies the historical weight of her achievement.

Three Medals Across the Competition

Vithya's haul at Nagoya comprised a gold, a silver, and a bronze — a remarkable spread across events that highlighted both her individual versatility and her value to the Indian relay squad.

The gold came in the women's 4x400m relay, where India's quartet of Kiran Pahal, M.R. Poovamma, Prachi, and Vithya held off Bahrain — who finished in 3:30.21 — with China claiming bronze in 3:31.02. Anchoring India in the final leg, Vithya surged around the 200m mark, erasing the deficit and delivering the gold in what was described as an eagerly awaited finish.

Why This Moment Matters

Vithya Ramraj's triple-medal performance is the most decorated individual athletics showing by a Tamil Nadu athlete at the Asian Games in recent years. The breaking of PT Usha's record — one of Indian athletics' most enduring benchmarks — signals a generational shift in Indian women's sprinting.

This is also the second time in weeks that a top Tamil film personality has made a point of personally acknowledging her, reflecting a broader cultural embrace of Indian track and field that goes beyond the usual cricketing spotlight. With the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics on the horizon, Vithya's trajectory will be closely watched by coaches, selectors, and fans alike.