GANDHINAGAR: Race walker Ram Baboo has opted for an event that is not just physically very demanding, but also mentally taxing. The Uttar Pradesh walker, however, is not new to struggles and hardships. His gold in 35km race walk event with a national record on a hot day in Gandhinagar, was only one of the many tough days the athlete has seen.
On Tuesday, Ram Baboo clocked 2:36.34s to break the national record of 2:40.16s created by Haryana's Juned Khan last year.
Ram, 23, who trains at the Army Sports Institute as a civilian, is awaiting his recruitment at the army institution. "I have been training there with other athletes and living the life of a recruit there, but my appointment is still on hold. I think there has been some delay because of a change in the policy for Agneeveer appointment," Ram said. "But I am getting good training, food and lodging at ASI," he added.
Before reaching the ASI, the UP athlete has done odd jobs to survive. "I have worked as a waiter in a restaurant in Varanasi for a couple of months. But I couldn't work on my recovery while working there as I had to work late till hours and I couldn't manage my sleep," he said.
Though the job was helping him earn money and manage food, he couldn't focus on his sport. Things worsened in 2020, as Ram had to work as a labourer to survive.
"I used to dig roads as I worked under the MNREGA (Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act), where I used to do a lot of digging to make new roads in UP. It was a lot of hard work and I used to make Rs 200 to 300 per day, as it depended on the total area I dug every day," he said. Now, he is not thinking about anything other than his training. "I am hopeful that my application will be considered by the Army," he said.
ASI's commandant Colonel Devraj Gill, who watched Ram's event, said his file will be processed soon. "It is under consideration and I am sure this performance will push his case further. His recruitment should happen soon," Gill said.
