“I will make a name for myself” was the promise that Ram Baboo made to his mother when he was a young boy.
Not only did he make his mother proud, he made his entire country proud by winning the bronze medal at the Asian Games 2023. He won the medal for a 35 km race-walk mixed team event with Manju Rani.
Born and raised in Uttar Pradesh, Ram always wanted to do something to bring his family out of crushing poverty. As a way of doing so, he decided to take up sports. After suffering from a knee injury, he switched from running to race walking.
While practising, Ram would work odd jobs like digging ditches and laying roads. He would make a meagre sum of Rs 300 per day.
During the COVID-19 lockdown, Ram had to work as a daily wage labourer under the central government’s MGNREGA scheme to make ends meet.
In an interview with ANI, he said, “I come from a very rural India and have seen a lot of tough days. My mother dreamt of giving me a better life than what they have led. Winning this medal gives me immense satisfaction and I am overjoyed to have made my parents and village proud.”
(Edited by Padmashree Pande)
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