New Delhi, March 28 -- Indian racewalker Ram Baboo, who recently qualified for the Paris 2024 Olympics in 20 km racewalk, opened up about the tough times he had during the COVID-19 pandemic, which forced him to work as a labourer under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) and his journey from then till two of his biggest accomplishments: an Asian Games medal last year and Olympic qualification.

Baboo breached the qualifying standard for the Paris 2024 Olympics after he clinched the bronze medal in the men's 20km race walk event at the Dudinska 50 2024 athletics competition in Dudince, Slovakia, on March 16. The Asian Games medalist clocked one hour and 20 minutes (1:20:00) and met the Paris Olympics qualif...