New Delhi, Sept. 28 -- This was one national record that had stood the test of time. PT Usha's gallant run at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics 400m hurdles final, where she clocked a blistering 55.42secs yet missed the bronze by a heart-breaking 0.01sec, was a milestone in Indian athletics.

Nobody came close to that time until Vithya Ramraj equalled it at the 2023 Hangzhou Asian Games. It would take three more years for Vithya to shatter that mark.

The special moment came on a rainy day at the Aichi-Nagoya Games on Monday. Vithya powered her way through the 400m hurdles final, clocking 54.75secs. She claimed bronze, but it was when she saw her timing that Vithya broke into a big smile, jumping in sheer joy. This was one record she had been...