Truck driver’s daughter Vithya Ramraj overcame years of struggle to break PT Usha’s 42-year record

Vithya Ramraj, the daughter of a truck driver, has broken the 42-year national record in the women's 400m hurdles, clocking 54.75 seconds at the Asian Games 2026 in Aichi Nagoya. This achievement marks the end of a long struggle for the 27-year-old, who had to overcome numerous challenges to reach this milestone. Her father worked extra shifts to support the family, and initially, athletics was not a part of their plan.

However, a PE teacher spotted their potential and suggested sports. Their mother eventually enrolled them in a hostel run by the Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu, which made a significant difference. Despite the difficulties, Vithya persevered and joined the national camp in 2018. However, she faced struggles with food, language, and the need for individual attention.

Subsequently, she faced disruptions in her preparations due to Covid and appendicitis surgery. With her twin sister's support through her job at the Income Tax Department, Vithya was able to continue her training independently. In the 2023 Asian Games, Vithya reached the record-breaking time of 55.42 seconds, but it took three more years to finally break PT Usha's record.

Her coach encouraged her to focus on the timing rather than the medal, and Vithya succeeded, breaking the record with a time of 54.75 seconds. The news of her achievement brought joy to PT Usha, who congratulated Vithya and expressed her delight in seeing the record broken. The most heartening aspect of Vithya's journey was her impact on her family, as she managed to save her father from working as a truck driver and even bought her mother her first flight ticket.

Vithya's record-breaking performance in the 400m hurdles has changed the benchmark for Indian women in this event, marking the end of a 42-year legacy.