Asian Games 2026:Tamil Nadu athlete Vithya Ramraj made history at the 2026 Asian Games. She won the bronze medal in the 400m hurdles race, clocking a time of 54.75 seconds.
With this victory, she achieved a personal best and also broke the national record. In the 400m hurdles event, Mariam Karim of the UAE won the gold, while Adelina James of Kazakhstan secured the silver medal.
Vithya Ramraj: An Athlete Forged Through Blood and Grit
Vithya Ramraj winning a medal at the Asian Games is a remarkable achievement. She was born into a very humble family; her father is a truck driver. It was her mother’s decision to turn Vithya into an athlete. Although villagers raised many questions about this choice, her mother remained determined to see Vithya succeed in the sport.
Her family could not even afford to buy proper shoes a pair cost ₹25,000 yet Vithya won races wearing torn footwear. In the early days, she even won several races with blood-stained feet. She also fell seriously ill during the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequently underwent surgery for appendicitis. Her family urged her to give up sports, but Vithya refused to give in.
Vithya's Stellar Career
Vithya Ramraj had previously demonstrated her prowess at the Asian Games. At the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou, she won a bronze medal in the 400m hurdles, equalling P.T. Usha's record in the process.
In Hangzhou, Vithya also secured silver medals in both the 4×400m mixed relay and the women's 4×400m relay. She had previously won a bronze medal at the Asian Championships. Now, she has once again proven her mettle at the Asian Games.
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