‘I am not pushed enough’: National record holder Vithya sets sights on sub-54 run next

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Colourful haul: Vithya won one each of gold, silver and bronze from Aichi-Nagoya! | Photo Credit: FILE PHOTO: R.V. MOORTHY

The 28-year-old, who emerged as one of India’s standout performers at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, returned with three medals and a National record in the 400m hurdles, breaking P.T. Usha’s 42-year-old mark.

“In the last Asian Games (2023) in Hangzhou, I won three medals. I don’t know why I became popular this time,” she told select media at a function organised by jewellery brand Tanishq (Anna Nagar) on Wednesday.

She might sound modest, but her performance speaks for itself. She played the anchor role brilliantly to help India win the gold medal in the women’s 4x400m relay, ran a brilliant race to break Usha’s long-standing record in the 400m hurdles (bronze) and did well to guide India to a silver in the 4x400m mixed relay.

𝐈𝐍𝐃𝐈𝐀'𝐒 𝐎𝐍𝐋𝐘 𝐆𝐎𝐋𝐃 𝐈𝐍 𝐀𝐓𝐇𝐋𝐄𝐓𝐈𝐂𝐒 🌟 The quartet of Kiran, M. Poovamma, Prachi, and Vithya Ramaraj clocked 3:29.69 in the women's 4x400m relay to take home the gold 🥇💪 📸: @rvmoorthyhindu #AsianGames2026 https://t.co/VurqN7UhFi

Though Vithya is happy to have won bronze in the 400m hurdles at the Games while breaking the National record (54.75s), the athlete and her personal coach, Nehpal Singh, felt she should focus on running sub-54 next.

“My coach is not happy with my timing in the 400m hurdles at the Games in Japan. In India, I am not pushed enough... hence, I am not able to go sub-54. I will work harder and try to achieve the timing my coach has demanded of me,” said Vithya.

When asked about the facilities at the cruise ship where the team stayed in Japan, Vithya replied: “I’ve lived in a room with 20 members. We lived like that for six years. There were no reservations during travel for competitions. My coach (Nehpal) said, ‘Don’t care about anything. Just go and run the race.’”

In all probability, Vithya will make her debut at the World athletics championships next year in Beijing. “I want Vithya to make it to the final. That’s the target,” said Nehpal.

According to Vithya, the key to her success at the Asian Games was the good sleep she had in Spala (Poland), where she trained prior to the Games. “I slept for 10 hours in those three months. That was what brought my performance,” she said.

She will be keen to maintain the sleep cycle to achieve higher dreams.

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