Tamil Nadu CM Rewards Achieving Athlete Vithya Ramraj with Cash Prize
Tamil Nadu’s Chief Minister, C. Joseph Vijay, has announced a cash reward of Rs 30 lakh for Vithya Ramraj, who recently won a bronze medal in the women’s 400m hurdles at the 2026 Asian Games held in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. This announcement was made on Monday following her remarkable and record-setting performance in the final race.
Vithya clocked an impressive 54.75 seconds, which not only secured her third place but also broke the longstanding national record of 55.42 seconds set by the legendary athlete P.T. Usha at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics. Her achievement stands as a significant highlight for India’s athletics at this year’s Games.
At 28 years old, Vithya had previously matched Usha’s record at the 2022 Asian Games in Hangzhou, with a time of 55.42 seconds during the heats. However, in Japan, she managed to surpass that and lower the record by 0.67 seconds, making her achievement even more special.
In his congratulatory message, Chief Minister Vijay expressed pride in Ramraj’s accomplishment, emphasizing the importance of breaking a record that had held for over four decades. “I offer my sincere congratulations and best wishes to Vithya Ramraj for bringing honor to Tamil Nadu and India with her bronze medal win in the 400-meter hurdles,” he stated.
Vijay also noted the significance of Ramraj’s success, saying, “It’s truly remarkable that after 42 years, the national record set by P.T. Usha has been broken. Vithya Ramraj has now set a new benchmark.” He added that the Tamil Nadu government will award her the cash incentive to inspire youth and women in the state.
Other Rewards for Tamil Nadu Athletes at the Asian Games
Vithya is not the only athlete from Tamil Nadu to receive recognition during these Games. Previously, she and her teammate, Vishal T.K., received Rs 50 lakh for their role in securing a silver medal in the mixed 4x400m relay.
Additionally, Chief Minister Vijay has announced other rewards for Tamil Nadu athletes as well:
- G Kamalini was awarded Rs 75 lakh for her part in the gold-medal-winning women’s T20 cricket team.
- Badminton player A. Hariharan received Rs 30 lakh after the men’s team captured bronze.
- Baranica Elangovan was recognized with Rs 30 lakh for winning bronze in women’s pole vault, a first-ever medal for India in this event at the Asian Games.
- Joshna Chinappa and Velavan Senthilkumar each received Rs 30 lakh for their bronze medal in the squash mixed doubles, while Abhay Singh got Rs 50 lakh after finishing with silver in men’s singles.
Vithya Ramraj’s personal achievement and the new national record contribute to Tamil Nadu’s growing success at the Asian Games, further inspiring future generations of athletes.
