PT Usha congratulates Vithya Ramraj after 42-year-old national record falls

The legendary P T Usha, on Monday, congratulated Vithya Ramraj on breaking her 42-year-old national record in the women's 400m hurdles, saying the greatest legacy of a record is not how long it stands but how it inspires the next generation to go beyond it.

Ramraj clocked a personal best 54.75 seconds to win the bronze medal at the Asian Games here, bettering Usha's national mark of 55.42 seconds, which had stood since the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics.

"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," Usha said in a statement.

"Vithya Ramraj breaking my 43-year-old national record in the 400m hurdles is an incredibly special moment for me," she added.

Usha, one of India's greatest track and field athletes, said records should ultimately serve as inspiration for those who follow.

"As athletes, we compete to challenge ourselves, to push limits and, ultimately, to leave the sport better than we found it. When a young athlete comes along and surpasses a milestone that has stood for decades, it is a moment of pride — not just for the athlete, but for the sport itself," she said.

"The greatest legacy of a record is not how long it stands, but how it inspires the next athlete to dream of going beyond it," Usha added.

Ramraj's 54.75-second effort also earned her a place on the Asian Games podium, with Mariam Kareem of the UAE winning gold in 54.31 seconds and Adelina Zems of Kazakhstan taking silver in 54.58 seconds.

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