NAGOYA, Japan : India’s Vithya Ramraj broke a 42-year-old national record held by legendary athlete P.T. Usha as she won bronze in the women’s 400 metres hurdles at the Asian Games on Monday.
Ramraj clocked a personal best of 54.75 seconds, surpassing Usha’s previous national record of 55.42 set at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics.
Ramraj had equalled Usha’s mark in 2023 and finally eclipsed it in the Asian Games final, clearing all 10 hurdles to secure third place.
Mariam Kareem of the United Arab Emirates won gold in a Games-record 54.31 seconds, while Kazakhstan’s Adelina Zems took silver in 54.58.
Ramraj’s performance marked the first time an Indian woman had gone below 55.42 seconds in the event, ending Usha’s long-standing hold on the national record.
India’s Anu Raghavan also set a personal best of 55.88 seconds to finish fifth.
India’s medal tally rose to 40 at the Games, comprising four golds, 17 silvers and 19 bronzes, leaving the country 12th in the medal standings.
