Indian athletics produced a memorable moment at the Asian Games 2026 as Vithya Ramraj broke PT Usha’s 42-year-old national record in the women’s 400m hurdles. She finished the race in 54.75 seconds to win the bronze medal.

Ramraj’s performance was also a personal best. Her timing surpassed the 55.42-second mark set by PT Usha at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, ending one of the longest-standing records in Indian athletics.

Vithya Ramraj Breaks PT Usha Record

Vithya Ramraj clocked 54.75 seconds in the 400m hurdles final. The performance not only secured her a podium finish but also established a new Indian national record in the event.

UAE’s Mariam Karim won the gold medal with a time of 54.31 seconds, while Kazakhstan’s Adelina James finished second in 54.58 seconds. Ramraj was just 0.17 seconds behind the silver-medal position.

The bronze was Ramraj’s second medal at the ongoing Asian Games. She had earlier been part of India’s mixed 4x400m relay team that won the silver medal.

Gulveer Singh Wins Silver in 1500m

India also added another athletics medal through Gulveer Singh, who finished second in the men’s 1500m final. He clocked a personal-best time of 3:36.72 to claim the silver medal.

Japan’s Kazuto Iizawa took the gold after finishing in 3:36.35, while fellow Japanese runner Nagisa Mori secured bronze with a time of 3:37.92.

The silver was Gulveer’s second medal at the 2026 Asian Games. Earlier in the competition, he had won silver in the men’s 10,000m event after recording a time of 28:29.38.

A Significant Day for Indian Athletics

Ramraj’s record-breaking run and Gulveer Singh’s silver added to India’s athletics medal tally at the Asian Games. Their performances highlighted another productive day for the Indian track-and-field contingent in Nagoya.

For Vithya Ramraj, the achievement carries particular significance because she had come close to PT Usha’s mark before. This time, she went past the long-standing record while also securing a medal on the Asian Games stage.