BAREFOOT TO BRONZE RAM BABOO'S STORY OF RISING AGAINST THE ODDS

On one fine day in October last year, a story caught the attention of Mahindra Group Chairman Anand Mahindra. He took to X Twitter) to express his admiration for Ram Baboo’s journey from an MGNREGA daily wager to an Asian Games bronze medalist. Ram's journey touched his heart. He extended support to his family by providing them with a Mahindra Mahindra vehicle for their farm.

Ram's story isn’t just for people who love sports; it’s a tale of hard work and inspiration that can touch anyone's heart. From his village to Hangzhou, China, where he won a bronze medal in the Asian Games, his journey is a powerful example of never giving up and rising against the odds. In a candid conversation with Ram, he shared his love for athletics and how he became an Asian Games Medalist.

HUMBLE BEGINNINGS

Ram Baboo's story began in a small village, Bahuara Bhairawa in Uttar Pradesh. As his father was a daily wage labourer, he faced many financial difficulties.

At 17, Ram left his village and went to Varanasi to use the training facilities in a stadium. There, he met his first instructor, Chandrabahan Yadav. He worked as a waiter in a nearby hotel to earn some money, and finally, he bought his first pair of sports shoes from the money he had saved while working. Buying these shoes was the first step toward his athletic goals.