Vithya Ramraj Biography
Vithya Ramraj is an Indian track and field athlete from Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, who competes in the 400 metres and 400m hurdles. Born on September 20, 1998, she has developed into one of India’s leading women quarter-milers and hurdlers. World Athletics lists her personal best at 400m hurdles as 54.75 seconds, recorded at the 2026 Asian Games in Nagoya.
Her name became particularly prominent at the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, where she collected three medals. She won silver in the mixed 4x400m relay, bronze in the women’s 400m hurdles and later helped India win gold in the women’s 4x400m relay.
Early Life and Family
Vithya Ramraj was born in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, and grew up in a family with limited financial resources. Her father, Ramraj, worked as a truck driver, while her twin sister Nithya Ramraj also became an athlete.
Reports about Vithya’s early years describe a family that had to carefully manage the costs associated with competitive athletics. Nithya later supported Vithya financially while she was training independently, before Vithya eventually secured employment with Indian Railways.
Vithya and Nithya were introduced to athletics after their sporting ability was noticed during their school years. They eventually joined a Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu hostel in Erode, which helped provide a more structured environment for their athletic development.
Vithya Ramraj’s Education
Information about Vithya Ramraj’s formal academic qualifications is less extensively documented than her athletics career. Her development took place within Tamil Nadu’s sports system, including training through the Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu.
Because reliable public sources do not consistently document a complete school and university history, specific educational qualifications should not be added without further verification.
Beginning of Her Athletics Career
Vithya initially developed as a sprinter before establishing herself in the 400m and 400m hurdles.
Her progress eventually took her into India’s national athletics system. She joined the national camp at NIS Patiala in 2018, although reports say she later left the camp and continued training independently under coach Nehpal Singh Rathore.
The transition to independent training was an important stage in her career because it required her to manage the financial demands of training, accommodation and competition.
Breakthrough at the 2023 Asian Games
Vithya Ramraj’s international breakthrough came at the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou, where she competed in the women’s 400m hurdles.
She ran 55.42 seconds, equalling the Indian national record established by P.T. Usha at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics. The mark had stood for decades, making Vithya’s performance one of the notable moments of Indian athletics at the Games.
She also won a bronze medal in the event, establishing herself as a major name in India’s women’s 400m hurdles.
The performance created a new target for Vithya: breaking the 55.42-second mark rather than simply matching it.
Vithya Ramraj and the 2026 Asian Games
The defining chapter of Vithya Ramraj’s career so far came at the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya.
She first helped India win silver in the mixed 4x400m relay, with the Indian team recording 3:14.46.
She then produced the individual performance that transformed her place in Indian athletics history.
Breaking P.T. Usha’s National Record
In the women’s 400m hurdles final, Vithya clocked 54.75 seconds to win bronze.
The time was a personal best and lowered the Indian national record from 55.42 seconds, the mark P.T. Usha had set at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics. Vithya became the first Indian woman to officially run faster than that long-standing benchmark.
Her 54.75-second performance also placed her below the 55-second barrier for the first time.
The achievement came 42 years after Usha established the previous national record.
Women’s 4x400m Relay Gold
Vithya’s Asian Games campaign did not end with her individual bronze.
On September 29, 2026, she ran the anchor leg for India’s women’s 4x400m relay team alongside Kiran Pahal, M.R. Poovamma and Prachi Choudhary.
The Indian quartet clocked 3:29.69 to win gold, finishing ahead of Bahrain and China. Vithya held her position during the final leg as India secured its first athletics gold of the 2026 Asian Games.
The relay victory gave Vithya a third medal at the Games: one gold, one silver and one bronze.
Vithya Ramraj’s Personal Bests
According to World Athletics, Vithya’s current personal bests include:
- 400m hurdles: 54.75 seconds, September 28, 2026
- 400m: 51.96 seconds, August 22, 2026
- 4x400m relay: 3:27.85
- Mixed 4x400m relay: 3:14.22
Her 54.75-second 400m hurdles performance is currently her most significant individual mark because it also stands as India’s national record.
Vithya Ramraj and Her Twin Sister Nithya
Vithya’s relationship with her twin sister Nithya has been an important part of her athletic story.
Nithya also competed in athletics and later took a job with the Income Tax Department. During a period when Vithya was training independently, Nithya used part of her income to help cover her sister’s training and living expenses. Vithya later joined Indian Railways.
Their story has attracted attention because both sisters remained involved in athletics while supporting each other through different stages of their careers.
Coaching and Training
Vithya has trained under Nehpal Singh Rathore, particularly during the period when she continued her development outside the national camp.
Her preparation has involved both the 400m and 400m hurdles, allowing her to contribute to India’s relay teams as well as compete individually.
World Athletics currently lists her primarily under the 400m hurdles while also recording performances in the flat 400m and relay events.
Vithya Ramraj’s Career Achievements
Among her major achievements are:
- Bronze at the 2023 Asian Games in the women’s 400m hurdles
- Equalled P.T. Usha’s 55.42-second national record in 2023
- 2025 Asian Championships bronze in the 400m hurdles
- Silver in the 2026 Asian Games mixed 4x400m relay
- Bronze in the 2026 Asian Games women’s 400m hurdles
- New Indian national record of 54.75 seconds in the 400m hurdles
- Gold in the 2026 Asian Games women’s 4x400m relay
- 400m personal best of 51.96 seconds in 2026
Personal Life
Vithya Ramraj keeps much of her personal life away from public attention. The strongest public reporting focuses on her athletics career and her close relationship with her twin sister Nithya.
Her family background has become part of her public story because of the financial difficulties she faced during her development as an athlete and the support provided by her sister.
Vithya Ramraj’s Legacy in Indian Athletics
At 28, Vithya Ramraj has already established an important place in Indian women’s athletics.
Her 2023 Asian Games performance brought her level with P.T. Usha’s longstanding 400m hurdles record. Three years later, she went beyond it at the 2026 Asian Games with a 54.75-second run.
Her three-medal campaign in Nagoya also demonstrated her value beyond the individual hurdles event. She contributed to India’s mixed relay silver and women’s 4x400m relay gold, making the 2026 Asian Games one of the most significant competitions of her career.
Frequently Asked Questions About Vithya Ramraj
1. How old is Vithya Ramraj?
Vithya Ramraj was born on September 20, 1998, making her 28 years old in September 2026. World Athletics lists her date of birth and current age.
2. Where is Vithya Ramraj from?
Vithya Ramraj is from Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India. She developed as a sprinter and 400m hurdler through the Tamil Nadu athletics system.
3. What is Vithya Ramraj’s national record?
Vithya Ramraj holds the Indian women’s 400m hurdles national record at 54.75 seconds. She set the mark at the 2026 Asian Games in Nagoya, breaking the previous 55.42-second record associated with P.T. Usha.
4. How many medals did Vithya Ramraj win at the 2026 Asian Games?
Vithya Ramraj won three medals at the 2026 Asian Games: gold in the women’s 4x400m relay, silver in the mixed 4x400m relay and bronze in the women’s 400m hurdles.
5. Who is Vithya Ramraj’s twin sister?
Vithya Ramraj’s twin sister is Nithya Ramraj, who is also an athlete. Nithya supported Vithya financially during an important period of her independent training before Vithya secured employment with Indian Railways.
