Tamil Nadu sprinter Vithya Ramraj claimed a bronze medal in the women's 400-metre hurdles at the Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, clocking 54.75 seconds to shatter a national record that had stood for 42 years. The timing surpassed the 55.42-second mark set by legendary Indian athlete P. T. Usha at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, ending one of Indian athletics' most enduring records.

A Record Long in the Making

Ramraj had come agonisingly close to the milestone before — she equalled Usha's mark at the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou — but it was in Aichi-Nagoya that she finally took sole ownership. Her time of 54.75 seconds bettered the old record by 0.67 seconds, a substantial margin in an event where fractions decide medals. She had also been part of the Indian team that won silver in the mixed 4x400-metre relay at the same Games.

How the Final Unfolded

Maryam Karim of the United Arab Emirates won gold in 54.31 seconds, while Kazakhstan's Adelina Zems took silver in 54.58 seconds. Ramraj finished just 0.17 seconds behind the silver medallist. Fellow Indian Anu Raghavan placed fifth with a personal-best 55.88 seconds, underscoring the depth emerging in Indian women's hurdling.

Political Salute From Tamil Nadu BJP

Tamil Nadu Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Nainar Nagenthran was among the first to publicly hail the achievement, posting a congratulatory message on X. 'Heartiest congratulations to Tamil Nadu's talented athlete and a shining symbol of women's power, Ms Vidya Ramraj, on winning the bronze medal in the women's 400m hurdles at the Asian Games, clocking an impressive 54.75 seconds and breaking a remarkable 42-year-old national record,' he wrote.

Nagenthran noted that Ramraj had surpassed Usha's record 'set by legendary Indian athlete P. T. Usha at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, creating a new milestone in Indian athletics.' He added that the achievement 'has brought immense pride to Tamil Nadu and the entire nation' and called Ramraj 'a true example of determination, hard work, perseverance and the spirit to achieve excellence.'

Why This Milestone Matters

P. T. Usha's records have long served as both a benchmark and a symbol of a golden era in Indian women's track. The fact that the barrier endured for 42 years — surviving multiple Asian Games cycles and a generation of Indian sprinters — speaks to how high Usha set the bar in 1984. Ramraj's breakthrough signals a potential new chapter, particularly at a time when Indian athletics is showing consistent improvement on the continental stage. Notably, this is the first time in four decades that an Indian woman has held the national record in the 400m hurdles outright.