CHENNAI: In the bustling Churchgate railway station, a 24-year-old Tamil Nadu high jumper was always on his toes as a ticket collector (TC), navigating the demands of a job in one of Mumbai’s busiest stations. In the sea of faces, few knew that the uniform concealed an athlete chasing greater heights.A few years on, that quiet pursuit is echoing on bigger stages. Aadarsh Ram clinched bronze in the Asian Indoor Championships with a 2.19m effort in Feb and has breached the Athletics Federation of India’s qualification standards for both the Asian Games and Commonwealth Games. He pushed his limits further by clearing a personal best of 2.23m to finish second in the recent Indian Open Series in Bengaluru.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!The first year with Railways tested his endurance as the 28-year-old struggled to balance duty and training, remaining stuck around the 2.12m mark. With time slipping away, belief began to waver. Under Railways rules, only a medal at the Open Nationals would grant him a year of full-time training, making 2023 a decisive season.A podium finish would allow him to focus solely on athletics; failure meant continuing the grind. Despite a heel injury, Aadarsh secured bronze in a three-way tie at 2.10m — a turning point in his career.“Had I not medalled at the Open Nationals in 2023, my career would have been over. I was at a very low point. When people said I couldn’t progress, I began doubting myself, but I guess luck was on my side as the three of us ended with bronze medals,” Aadarsh told TOI.After joining Western Railways in May 2021, he struggled through long shifts and language barriers. The period from Sept 2021 to Sept 2022 was particularly tough as he tried to manage passengers, fines and limited Hindi while battling self-doubt. Unable to train during the pandemic and without a coach initially, Aadarsh approached national record holder Sahana Kumari in Bengaluru. Since beginning training under her in Jan 2023, his progress has been steady.“Under Sahana ma’am, I have strengthened my basics. Our aim is not just to compete in CWG and Asiad but win medals. I believe I can cross 2.25m this season,” he said.
