Vithya Ramraj eyes sub-54 after Asian Games three‑medal haul and national 400m hurdles record

Vithya Ramraj said on Wednesday at a Tanishq event in Anna Nagar, Chennai that she returned from the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games with three medals and a national record in the 400m hurdles. The 28-year-old broke P.T. Usha’s 42-year-old mark, clocking 54.75s in the event.

Ramraj was a central figure in India’s athletics team in Aichi-Nagoya, anchoring the women’s 4x400m relay to gold alongside Kiran, M. Poovamma and Prachi, who together posted 3:29.69, while also earning bronze in the individual 400m hurdles and silver in the 4x400m mixed relay. Her performance followed a three-medal showing at the previous Asian Games in Hangzhou in 2023.

“In the last Asian Games (2023) in Hangzhou, I won three medals. I don’t know why I became popular this time,” she told select media at a function organised by jewellery brand Tanishq (Anna Nagar) on Wednesday.

Ramraj said her coach, Nehpal Singh, expects faster times and that the focus now is to run under 54 seconds. “My coach is not happy with my timing in the 400m hurdles at the Games in Japan. In India, I am not pushed enough... hence, I am not able to go sub-54. I will work harder and try to achieve the timing my coach has demanded of me,” said Vithya.

Asked about team accommodation on the cruise ship in Japan, she described a modest background in which close quarters were the norm and relayed a message from her coach. “I’ve lived in a room with 20 members. We lived like that for six years. There were no reservations during travel for competitions. My coach (Nehpal) said, ‘Don’t care about anything. Just go and run the race.’”

Ramraj credited a training block in Spala, Poland with contributing to her form before the Games and highlighted recovery as a factor. “I slept for 10 hours in those three months. That was what brought my performance,” she said, and she said she intends to maintain that sleep pattern.

In all probability, Vithya will make her debut at the World athletics championships next year in Beijing. “I want Vithya to make it to the final. That’s the target,” said Nehpal.