Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay has announced a cash incentive of Rs 30 lakh for athlete Vithya Ramraj after she won bronze in the women’s 400m hurdles at the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. The announcement came on Monday after Ramraj produced a record-breaking performance in the final.
Ramraj clocked a personal best of 54.75 seconds to finish third and break PT Usha’s 42-year-old national record of 55.42 seconds. Usha had set the mark at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, making Ramraj’s performance one of the notable moments of India’s athletics campaign in Japan.
The 28-year-old had come close to the record before. At the 2022 Asian Games in Hangzhou, she clocked 55.42 seconds in the heats to equal Usha’s mark. Four years later, she finally went past it, lowering the record by 0.67 seconds in Nagoya.
Congratulating Ramraj, Vijay highlighted the significance of breaking a record that had stood for more than four decades.
“I extend my heartfelt congratulations and best wishes to the athletic champion Vidhya Ramraj, who has brought pride to Tamil Nadu and India by winning a bronze medal in the women’s 400-meter hurdles event at the Asian Games currently taking place in Japan,” Vijay wrote.
“It is even more commendable that the renowned Indian track and field athlete Ms. P.T. Usha’s national record, set in 1984, has been broken by the champion Vidhya Ramraj after 42 years, and she has now established a new national record.”
“In recognition of her outstanding achievement, a cash incentive of Rs. 30 lakh will be awarded on behalf of the Government of Tamil Nadu. Her victory will provide new inspiration and confidence to the youth and women of Tamil Nadu.”
“I wish track and field athlete Vidhya Ramraj continued success in achieving many more accomplishments!”
WHO ALL HAS CM VIJAY REWARDED AT ASIAN GAMES?
Ramraj had already received a Rs 50 lakh incentive from the Tamil Nadu government along with Vishal T K after the duo helped India win silver in the mixed 4x400m relay earlier in the Games.
Vijay has announced rewards for several Tamil Nadu athletes during the Aichi-Nagoya Games. G Kamalini received Rs 75 lakh after being part of India’s women’s T20 cricket gold-medal-winning team. Badminton player A Hariharan was awarded Rs 30 lakh after India’s men’s team won bronze.
Baranica Elangovan was also announced a Rs 30 lakh incentive after winning bronze in women’s pole vault, India’s first-ever Asian Games medal in the event. Joshna Chinappa and Velavan Senthilkumar received Rs 30 lakh each after their squash mixed doubles bronze, while Abhay Singh was rewarded Rs 50 lakh following his men’s singles silver.
Ramraj’s latest individual medal and national record have now added another landmark to Tamil Nadu’s growing medal haul at the Asian Games.
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