Records are meant to be broken: PT Usha's emotional tribute as Vithya makes history

PT Usha, one of India’s greatest track and field athletes, has congratulated Vithya Ramraj after the Indian hurdler broke her 42-year-old national record in the women’s 400m hurdles at the Asian Games 2026. Vithya clocked a personal best of 54.75 seconds in Nagoya to win bronze and take Usha’s 55.42-second mark off the record books.

Usha had set the record at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, and it remained untouched for more than four decades. Vithya had equalled the mark at the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou before finally going past it in Nagoya, lowering it by 0.67 seconds.

“Congratulations Vithya!! Records are meant to be broken & there is no greater reward for an athlete than to see the next generation go beyond the boundaries we once set,” Usha posted on X.

“Vithya Ramraj breaking my 43-year-old national record in the 400m hurdles is an incredibly special moment,” she added. PT Usha congratulated Vithya Ramraj who broke her national record in the Women's 400m hurdles at the 2026 Asian Games. (Image: Screengrab from X/@PTUshaOfficial)

Usha, who is now the president of the Indian Olympic Association, also reflected on what the record meant beyond the numbers. For the former athlete, seeing a younger Indian runner surpass a mark that had stood since her own Olympic campaign was a sign of how sporting milestones can push the next generation forward.

“As athletes, we compete to challenge ourselves, to push limits & ultimately, to leave the sport better than we found it,” Usha wrote on X. “When a young athlete comes along & surpasses a milestone that has stood for decades, it is a moment of pride not just for the athlete, but for the sport too.”

“The greatest legacy of a record is not how long it stands, but how it inspires the next athlete to dream of going beyond it,” she added.

Vithya’s 54.75 seconds also made her the first Indian woman to break the 55-second barrier in the event. She had previously shown how close she was to the mark by matching Usha’s 55.42 seconds in Hangzhou.  PT Usha admits its always inspiring the next generation of athletes that is more important than their own results. (Image: Screengrab from X/@PTUshaOfficial)   VITHYA ADDS SECOND MEDAL

The record-breaking run also brought Vithya her second medal in Nagoya. She had earlier helped India win silver in the mixed 4x400m relay, producing a strong final leg to secure second place for the Indian quartet.

UAE’s Mariam Kareem won the 400m hurdles gold in a Games-record 54.31 seconds, while Kazakhstan’s Adelina Zems took silver in 54.58. India’s Anu Raghavan finished fifth in a personal best of 55.88 seconds.

For Vithya, the Nagoya final brought together a medal and a record she had been chasing since first matching Usha’s mark in Hangzhou. This time, she did not just equal the benchmark, but moved it forward for the next generation.- Ends