\u201cCongratulations, Vithya!! Records are meant to be broken, and there is no greater reward for an athlete than to see the next generation go beyond the boundaries we once set,\u201d Usha said in a release.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cVithya Ramraj breaking my 43-year-old national record in the 400m hurdles is an incredibly special moment for me. As athletes, we compete to challenge ourselves, to push limits and, ultimately, to leave the sport better than we found it,\u201d she added.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Usha said seeing a young athlete surpass a milestone that had stood for decades was a moment of pride not just for the athlete but also for the sport.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cWhen a young athlete comes along and surpasses a milestone that has stood for decades, it is a moment of pride\u2014not just for the athlete, but for the sport itself,\u201d she said. \u201cThe greatest legacy of a record is not how long it stands, but how it inspires the next athlete to dream of going beyond it,\u201d Usha added.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Ramraj produced the record-breaking performance in the women's 400m hurdles final on Monday, clocking a personal best of 54.75 seconds to win the bronze medal.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The Indian improved Usha's previous national record of 55.42 seconds by 0.67 seconds. Usha had set the mark at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, where she finished fourth in the final.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n
At the 2023 Asian Games, Ramraj had matched Usha's record, earning her a bronze medal as well. Three years later, she not only surpassed that mark but also won her second consecutive bronze at the continental event. <\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Mariam Kareem from the UAE won the gold medal with a time of 54.31 seconds, a Games record, and Adelina Zems of Kazakhstan secured silver with a personal best of 54.58 seconds. <\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Ramraj stayed in contention for the medals throughout the race but was unable to equal Kareem's late surge. Nevertheless, her time of 54.75 seconds earned her a spot on the podium and changed the nation's record books. <\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Anu Raghavan from India also gave a solid performance in the final, reducing her personal best to 55.88 seconds and thus finishing in fifth place. Previously, her best time had been 56.54 seconds. <\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Ramraj stayed in contention for the medals throughout the race but was unable to equal Kareem's late surge. Nevertheless, her time of 54.75 seconds earned her a spot on the podium and changed the nation's record books. <\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Also Read: <\/b> Special Cricket Stories<\/a><\/p>\r\n\r\n