Vidya Ramraj Breaks PT Usha’s 40-Year-Old National Record

Vidya Ramraj scripted a remarkable chapter in Indian athletics by winning bronze in the women’s 400m hurdles at the Asian Games. She clocked a personal best of 54.75 seconds, breaking the national record of 55.42 seconds set by legendary athlete PT Usha at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics. Vidya’s performance ended Usha’s nearly four-decade hold on the national record. This was Vidya’s second medal at the Games after being part of India’s silver-winning mixed 4x400m relay team.

Vidya, who hails from Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, comes from a modest family. Her father worked as a truck driver, while her mother wanted Vidya and her twin sister Nithya to take up sports. Since the family could not afford the expenses, the sisters were admitted to a Sports Authority of India hostel, where coach Neha Pal Singh encouraged Vidya to pursue athletics. She initially competed in the 100m and 200m before switching to the 400m hurdles in 2017. Vidya later represented India at the 2022 Asian Games and the 2024 Paris Olympics as part of the 4x400m relay squad.