National Award winning actor Dhanush recently met Tamil Nadu athlete Vithya Ramraj and congratulated her following her impressive campaign at the 2026 Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan. The meeting comes after Vithya returned from the continental sporting event with three medals and a record breaking performance that brought her considerable attention across India.
Vithya Ramraj has emerged as one of the notable names in Indian athletics after producing a memorable performance in the women’s 400m hurdles. She clocked 54.75 seconds in the final to win the bronze medal and, more significantly, surpassed the long standing national record associated with legendary Indian athlete P T Usha.
Usha had set the previous national record of 55.42 seconds in the women’s 400m hurdles at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics. The mark remained untouched for more than four decades. Vithya had previously equalled the 55.42 second mark at the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou, but she finally moved past it in Nagoya with a timing of 54.75 seconds.
The improvement was significant because Vithya became the first Indian woman to complete the 400m hurdles in under 55 seconds. Her performance also represented a personal best and lowered the previous national benchmark by 0.67 seconds.
Vithya’s record breaking run was part of an impressive overall campaign at the Asian Games. She contributed to India’s medal tally in relay events and also secured an individual bronze in the 400m hurdles. Reports on her Games campaign state that she returned with three medals, including gold in the women’s 4x400m relay, silver in the mixed 4x400m relay and bronze in the women’s 400m hurdles.
Her achievement has received recognition from several quarters, including P T Usha herself. Following Vithya’s record breaking performance, Usha publicly congratulated the athlete and acknowledged the significance of seeing a younger generation move beyond a record that had stood for decades.
Vithya’s journey to the record has also attracted attention because she had spent several years competing at a high level while attempting to improve her timing. Her coach Nehpal Singh had previously spoken about her consistency and long term potential in the 400m hurdles. According to reports, the athlete had remained among India’s leading performers in the event for several years before finally breaking the national record in Nagoya.
The 2026 Asian Games performance was particularly important because Vithya had already come close to the record at the previous edition. Her 55.42 second performance in Hangzhou in 2023 equalled Usha’s mark. However, the record officially remained with Usha until Vithya produced the 54.75 second run in Japan.
Following her return to India, Vithya received recognition not only from the sporting community but also from people in the entertainment industry. Dhanush’s meeting with the athlete became one such moment. According to reports, the actor personally congratulated Vithya for her performance and the medals she won at the Asian Games. Photographs from the meeting showed Dhanush posing with Vithya and members of her family.
Dhanush’s gesture has attracted attention because Vithya’s achievement has resonated beyond athletics. Breaking a national record that had remained intact for more than 40 years made her performance one of the notable moments of India’s athletics campaign at the Asian Games.
The achievement is also significant for Tamil Nadu. Vithya hails from Coimbatore and has represented India at major international competitions. Her progress has made her a prominent figure in the state’s athletics community. Her success has also brought greater attention to the challenges faced by athletes who work for years to reach the international level.
Vithya’s story includes the support of her family and twin sister Nithya, who is also an athlete. Reports have highlighted the role of her family and coaching team in helping her continue her career despite the challenges involved in professional athletics.
The record breaking performance in Nagoya also changed the expectations surrounding Vithya’s future. Her coach has indicated that the athlete can target even faster times, with qualification standards for major international competitions providing another benchmark for her development.
For Dhanush, meeting Vithya offered an opportunity to recognise a sporting achievement that had captured national attention. For Vithya, the meeting added another memorable moment to an already successful Asian Games campaign.
Her three medal haul, combined with the 54.75 second national record in the 400m hurdles, has established the 2026 Asian Games as an important chapter in her athletics career. The record also marked the end of one of the longest standing benchmarks in Indian women’s athletics.
Vithya’s achievement demonstrates the importance of sustained preparation, coaching and competition at the highest level. While her Asian Games campaign has already produced a major milestone, her future performances will determine how far she can continue to improve on the national record she has now established.
