| Ram Baboo is an Indian track athlete acclaimed for his prowess in the 35 km race walk events. In 2023, he secured a bronze medal in the team 35 km race walk event at the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, China. His dedication to athletics while juggling work as a daily wage laborer and a hotel waiter garnered significant attention. |
| He hails from a financially struggling family background, with his father Chhote Lal earning between Rs 3000 to Rs 3500 monthly as a manual laborer. Ram Baboo's interest in sports overshadowed academic pursuits during his school years, particularly inspired by the success stories of athletes like Mary Kom, Saina Nehwal, Sushil Kumar, and Gagan Narang in the 2012 Olympics. |
| Transitioning from marathon running due to knee pain, he shifted to racewalking under the guidance of coach Pramod Yadav for its lower impact. To support his training expenses in Varanasi, Ram Baboo worked as a hotel waiter, facing challenges due to long hours and lack of respect. |
| Participating in national race walking championships, he clinched positions like fourth in the 50km event in Ranchi in 2020 and a silver in Ranchi in 2021. Ram Baboo diligently balanced training and work, even during the COVID-19 lockdown, engaging in the MGNREGA scheme for financial sustenance. |
| His notable achievements include setting a national record in the 35km race walk in Warangal in 2021, followed by gold in Bengaluru and Gujarat in 2022, breaking his own records. Securing a position in the Indian Army despite exceeding the age criteria, he earned the rank of havildar after his success at the National Games. |
| Participating in the 19th Asian Games in 2023, Ram Baboo won a bronze medal in the 35km mixed team event alongside Manju Rani, impressing many including Anand Mahindra who offered support to his family. In a 2023 interview, he shared plans to shift to the 20km race walk event for the next season due to the unpredictability of the mixed team event results. |
