India’s leading quarter-miler Vithya Ramraj delivered one of the standout performances of the Federation Cup 2026, storming to the women’s 400m title in 52.22 seconds on Day 2 of the competition.
While the meet witnessed multiple national records across events, Vithya’s performance quietly established her as the fastest Indian woman this season over 400m and currently the third-fastest athlete in Asia in 2026.
What makes the run even more remarkable is that the 400m flat is not her primary event.
The Tamil Nadu athlete is primarily known as a 400m hurdler and jointly holds the Indian national record in the women’s 400m hurdles alongside legendary P. T. Usha after clocking 55.42s at the Asian Games in Hangzhou in 2023.
Born in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, Vithya has steadily emerged as one of India’s most versatile quarter-milers. The 27-year-old represented India at the 2024 Summer Olympics in the women’s 4x400m relay and has consistently impressed across the 400m, 400m hurdles and relay events.
Vithya’s journey has also become one of the inspiring stories in Indian athletics. The daughter of a truck driver, she rose through the grassroots system in Tamil Nadu alongside her twin sister Nithya Ramraj, who is also an athlete.
Earlier this season, Vithya had already underlined her form by winning the Federation Cup 400m hurdles title in 56.04s, one of the fastest timings in Asia this year.
With momentum building ahead of the international season, all eyes will now be on her signature event — the women’s 400m hurdles — where she will once again chase history and potentially move clear of P.T. Usha’s iconic national mark.