# Vithya Ramraj breaks PT Usha’s 42-year-old national record

2026-09-28T17:11:48+00:00 | Sports | Indian Opinion Desk

Corroboration: 3 independent outlets

Vithya Ramraj won bronze in the women's 400m hurdles at the Asian Games in Nagoya on Monday, clocking 54.75 seconds to break PT Usha's 42-year-old national record of 55.42 seconds set at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics. Vithya had equalled Usha's record at the 2023 Hangzhou Asian Games but surpassed it only now. The 28-year-old from Coimbatore said she was happy to finally go past the mark, noting that everyone had been asking her for three years when she would do it again. UAE's Mariam Kareem won gold in a Games record of 54.31 seconds, and Kazakhstan's Adelina Zems took silver in 54.58 seconds. Anu Raghavan finished fifth in 55.88 seconds. Vithya's coach Nehpal Singh Rathore had told her to go for 54 seconds. Vithya will compete in the women's 4x400m relay on Tuesday for a possible third medal at these Games. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay announced a Rs 30 lakh prize for Vithya's achievement.

## Indian Opinion Analysis

Coverage across all four sources is neutral reporting focused on Vithya's record and the conditions. The Hindu and Sportstar led with the weather and a scoreboard glitch that delayed her time, while Hindustan Times foregrounded the 42-year endurance of Usha's mark. None of the sources adopt a government-critical or political frame. The variation is only in colour detail, not in slant. The unified narrative suggests that Vithya's performance, rather than any institutional factor, is the story. Her relay final on Tuesday will determine if she leaves Nagoya with three medals.

## Coverage

- thehindu.com (neutral report) <https://www.thehindu.com/sport/athletics/vithya-happy-to-go-past-usha-three-years-after-equalling-her-record/article71521038.ece>
  Leads with Vithya's joy and Usha's pride, straight news.
- hindustantimes.com (neutral report) <https://www.hindustantimes.com/sports/others/vithya-ramraj-breaks-pt-usha-s-42-year-old-national-hurdles-mark-101790609432675.html>
  Leads with the record's age and Usha's quote, wire-style reporting.
- sportstar.thehindu.com (neutral report) <https://sportstar.thehindu.com/asian-games/vithya-ramraj-pt-usha-national-record-asian-games-2026-aichi-nagoya-nehpal-singh-rathore-5475-timing/article71521342.ece>
  Leads with medal and cash award, short agency-style report.
- sportstar.thehindu.com (neutral report) <https://sportstar.thehindu.com/asian-games/asian-games-2026-tamil-nadu-cm-announces-rs-30-lakh-award-for-vithya-ramraj/article71521062.ece>
  Leads with medal and cash award, short agency-style report.

Tags: 400m hurdles, Asian Games, Nagoya, PT Usha, Vithya Ramraj
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