Asian Games 2026: Vithya Ramraj breaks P.T. Usha's 42-year-old national record for 400 m hurdles bronze; India win five more athletics medals
On 28 September 2026 at Aichi-Nagoya, Vithya Ramraj clocked 54.75 s to win women's 400 m hurdles bronze and break P.T. Usha's 55.42 s national record set at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics.
Summary
Vithya had equalled Usha's 55.42 s at Hangzhou 2023 and now holds the record alone, in the presence of Usha, the IOA president. In the javelin, Yashvir Singh won silver with a personal best 85.72 m and Rohit Yadav bronze with 84.35 m behind Sri Lanka's Rumesh Pathirage (88.55 m). Gulveer Singh won 1500 m silver in a personal best 3:36.72 behind Japan's Kazuto Iizawa, Murali Sreeshankar won long jump silver with 8.07 m — his second silver in as many Games — and Parul Chaudhary took 5000 m bronze in 15:14.61, a day after her steeplechase bronze. Defending champion Avinash Sable finished fourth in the 3000 m steeplechase.
Key facts
- Vithya Ramraj
- 400 m hurdles bronze, 54.75 s — new national record
- Old record
- 55.42 s, P.T. Usha, 1984 Los Angeles Olympics (42 years)
- Javelin
- Yashvir Singh silver (85.72 m, PB); Rohit Yadav bronze (84.35 m); gold Rumesh Pathirage, Sri Lanka (88.55 m)
- Gulveer Singh
- 1500 m silver, 3:36.72 (PB); gold Kazuto Iizawa, Japan
- Murali Sreeshankar
- Long jump silver, 8.07 m
- Parul Chaudhary
- 5000 m bronze, 15:14.61
- Avinash Sable
- 4th in 3000 m steeplechase (defending champion)
Practice MCQs 5 questions
Whose 42-year-old national record in the women's 400 m hurdles did Vithya Ramraj break at the Asian Games 2026?
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Correct answer: D — P.T. Usha
Vithya clocked 54.75 s, breaking P.T. Usha's 55.42 s set at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics.
Which Indian won the men's javelin silver at the Asian Games 2026 with a personal best of 85.72 m?
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Correct answer: D — Yashvir Singh
Yashvir Singh won silver with 85.72 m (PB); Rohit Yadav took bronze with 84.35 m. Sri Lanka's Rumesh Pathirage won gold.
Which country's athlete won the men's javelin gold at the Asian Games 2026, ahead of India's Yashvir Singh?
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Correct answer: D — Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka's Rumesh Pathirage won gold with 88.55 m in his final throw.
Consider the following statements about India's athletics results on 28 September 2026 at the Asian Games: 1. Gulveer Singh won silver in the men's 1500 m. 2. Avinash Sable successfully defended his 3000 m steeplechase title. Which of the above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: A — 1 only
Statement 1 is correct: Gulveer won 1500 m silver in 3:36.72. Statement 2 is wrong: defending champion Avinash Sable finished fourth.
Parul Chaudhary won a bronze medal in which event at the Asian Games 2026 on 28 September?
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Correct answer: D — Women's 5000 m
Parul Chaudhary won the women's 5000 m bronze in 15:14.61, a day after her 3000 m steeplechase bronze.