42-year-old record broken: Trucker’s daughter Vithya Ramraj rewrites history
Indian hurdler Vithya Ramraj has broken a 42-year-old national record in the women's 400m hurdles at the 2026 Asian Games. Her achievement marks a significant milestone in her career, following years of training and personal best performances.
Why it matters
It celebrates a major athletic achievement that updates long-standing national sports history.
Vithya Ramraj had already made history by matching PT Usha's 42-year-old national record, and three years later, she finally broke it.The 27-year-old Indian hurdler clocked a personal best of 54.75 seconds to win bronze in the women's 400m hurdles at the Asian Games 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya, breaking the national record that had belonged to legendary Usha since August 1984.In 2023, at the Hangzhou Asian Games, Ramraj had clocked 55.42 seconds to claim bronze and equal Usha's mark set at the Los Angeles Olympics on August 8, 1984.
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