A rainy Tuesday at the Japanese city of Aichi-Nagoya has proved to be where dream turned into reality for Vithya Ramraj, who won her first gold medal at the Asian Games.
The lanky athlete from Coimbatore powered India to secure Gold in 4x400m Women's relay, thus winning her third medal of this edition of Asian Games, writing another prestigious piece of history.
Although India had four adept athletes in the event, it was Vithya's final surge in the final lap, which transformed the colour to gold, as she galloped and thrusted on the turf beyond her rivals.
The journey of Vithya Ramraj
Vithya Ramraj's journey from a modest upbringing in Coimbatore to becoming one of India's leading quarter-milers has been built on persistence, setbacks and an unwillingness to give up.
The 28-year-old
athlete, whose father worked as a truck driver, did not come from a family with the resources to fund an elite sporting career. Her mother, however, saw an opportunity in athletics and enrolled Vithya and her twin sister Nithya at a sports hostel in Erode.
Athletics was not initially a carefully planned career. Vithya has recalled that a school physical education teacher suggested sport during a parent-teacher meeting, after which her mother chose athletics because it offered the sisters a better opportunity. The sports hostel was crucial because the family could not afford the expenses associated with training.
Her path was far from straightforward. Vithya joined the national camp at NIS Patiala in 2018 after pursuing a BBA degree through the sports quota, but struggled with food, language and the lack of individual training. Her preparations were further disrupted by COVID-19 and appendicitis surgery while she was targeting the Tokyo Olympic trials. She eventually moved to Chennai in 2022 and began training under coach Nehpal Singh Rathore, who encouraged her to pursue both the 400m and 400m hurdles.
That decision transformed her career. At the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou, Vithya won bronze in the 400m hurdles and silver in both the women's 4x400m and mixed 4x400m relays. She also equalled PT Usha's 55.42-second national record in the hurdles.
Vithya's three medals at Asian Games 2026
In Nagoya, Vithya has added another extraordinary chapter to her story.
She first played a crucial role in India's silver medal in the mixed 4x400m relay, running the anchor leg and helping the team clock 3:14.46.
She then won bronze in the women's 400m hurdles, but the medal was accompanied by something even more historic. Her 54.75-second personal best broke Usha's 42-year-old national record of 55.42 seconds.
Then came the biggest moment. Vithya was part of India's victorious women's 4x400m relay team, alongside Kiran Pahal, Machettira Poovamma and Prachi Chaudhary. The quartet clocked 3:29.69 to win gold, giving India its first athletics gold of the 2026 Asian Games. The Coimbatore girl ran an electric final lap to secure the crown for the nation.
Vithya Ramraj creates History
Vithya Ramraj has also become only the second Indian athlete to win three medals in multiple editions of the Asian Games. The only other being P.T. Usha, who did the same in 1986 and 1990 editions. The 4x400m gold was also Vithya's first gold in the Asian Games.
Vithya Ramraj's Asian Games medals
Hangzhou 2023
Bronze - Women's 400m hurdles
Silver - Women's 4x400m relay
Silver - Mixed 4x400m relay
Aichi-Nagoya 2026
Silver - Mixed 4x400m relay
Bronze - Women's 400m hurdles
Gold - Women's 4x400m relay
