A national record, three medals and a proud homecoming for Coimbatore’s Vithya Ramraj

A 42-year-old national record, three Asian Games medals and a return to her native village marked a memorable week for 28-year-old athlete Vithya Ramraj of Meenakshipuram in Coimbatore.

On September 28, Vithya won bronze in the women’s 400m hurdles at the 2026 Asian Games in Japan, clocking a personal best of 54.75 seconds to become the first Indian woman to breach the 55-second barrier and better P.T. Usha’s 55.42-second national record set at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics. She also won gold in the women’s 4x400m relay and silver in the mixed 4x400m relay at the Games.

Vithya had equalled Usha’s mark in 2023, but could not better it then. “I was sad in 2023 that I could not break the record. Now, I am happy that I have done it,” she said.

For her father, S. Ramraj, a truck driver, Vithya’s success is the culmination of years of effort by the entire family. “There were times when we did not have enough income to support her athletics. Even buying a pair of shoes was difficult. We somehow managed to arrange the money for her. Her twin sister Nithya helped her with her salary, and I would work extra shifts and put together the money,” he said.

The twins’ first taste of sport came at school, where they played hockey. Their physical training teacher encouraged them to pursue sport as a career, eventually leading them to the Erode Girls Sports Hostel when they were in Class VII.

“It was there that they started concentrating on athletics. Both of them began together, but later they chose different events. Nithya went into the shorter sprints, while Vithya took up the 400m hurdles,” Mr. Ramraj said.

The family’s role in Vithya’s career was not limited to meeting expenses. Her mother, R. Meena, travelled with her for competitions, while the twins continued their education alongside athletics. “We had not thought that she would excel this much. Sports helped her complete her schooling and her undergraduate programme,” Mr. Ramraj said.

Vithya credits coach Nehpal Singh Rathore for helping her build the discipline and endurance needed to compete at the highest level. Years of demanding training, she said, have taught her to stay the course through every race. “If not for him, I would not have reached this level,” she said. “I would just watch the runner ahead of me after receiving the baton and try to pass her. In every race, I give my fullest,” Vithya said.

“Setting the record is a proud moment, but I know there is more to achieve. I want to compete strongly at the international level and aim for better performances at the upcoming World Championships and Olympic Games,” she said.

On Saturday (October 3, 2026), Vithya returned to Meenakshipuram in a procession from Nachipalayam, where villagers burst firecrackers, distributed sweets and showered flowers on their Asian Games medalist and national record-holder.