In the annals of Indian athletics, few partnerships have proven as transformative as that between middle-distance runner Sriram Singh and his coach, Mohammed Ilyas Babar. Their collaboration not only rewrote Indian sporting history but also established a coaching legacy that influenced generations of athletes. The story of Sriram Singh’s meteoric rise is incomplete without acknowledging the pivotal role played by the man who saw potential where others saw limits.
When Sriram Singh joined the Rajputana Rifles in 1968, he came under the guidance of coach Ilyas Babar, who recognized untapped potential in the young athlete. At the time, Singh was competing in the 400 meters—showing promise but not dominance. Babar made a crucial decision that would alter Indian athletics history: he persuaded Singh to shift his focus from 400 meters to 800 meters. This strategic pivot demonstrated Babar’s keen understanding of his athlete’s physiological capabilities and competitive temperament.
After just one year of training under Babar’s guidance, Singh became the national champion in the 400m race, but greater glory awaited in the middle-distance category. The coach’s intuition proved prescient as Singh transitioned to the 800 meters with remarkable success.
Under Babar’s mentorship, Sriram Singh embarked on a career trajectory that would make him one of India’s most celebrated track athletes. At the 1970 Asian Games in Bangkok, Singh secured silver in the 800 meters, announcing his arrival on the continental stage. However, his crowning achievement came at the 1976 Montreal Olympics, where he set a national record of 1 minute 45.77 seconds in the 800 meters—a mark so exceptional that it stood for 42 years until Jinson Johnson broke it in 2018.
The magnitude of Singh’s achievement cannot be overstated. His time remained the Asian record until Lee Jin-il broke it in 1994, proving that Babar had coached Singh to world-class standards. Singh’s Olympic final appearance remains unique in Indian athletics history, making him the only Indian athlete to qualify for an 800m Olympic final.
Singh’s dominance extended across multiple championships. He retained his 800m gold medal at the 1978 Asian Games with a time of 1:48.80, cementing his status as Asia’s premier middle-distance runner of the era. His consistent excellence earned him India’s highest sporting honors—the Arjuna Award in 1973 and the Padma Shri in 1974.
To understand Sriram Singh’s success is to appreciate the genius of Ilyas Babar. Born in 1926 in Gulbarga, Karnataka, Babar was himself an accomplished athlete, serving as state champion in the 110m hurdles between 1950 and 1957 and excelling in the long jump. His transition from athlete to coach was marked by formal training—he obtained a diploma in coaching from the National Institute of Sports in Patiala in 1961, equipping himself with scientific methods that would revolutionize Indian middle-distance running.
After coaching in Secunderabad, Babar joined the Rajputana Rifles in Delhi, where he served until 1999. His three-decade tenure with the military sports program provided the infrastructure and support system necessary to develop world-class athletes.
What distinguished Babar from his contemporaries was not just producing a single champion but creating a sustained pipeline of excellence. He produced five Arjuna awardees—B.S. Barua, Awtar Singh, Charles Borromeo, Sriram Singh, and Geeta Zutshi. His roster of successful trainees also included Jagmal Singh, B.V. Satyanarayana, Tarlok Singh, Bagicha Singh, Harlal Singh, and Ram Narayan Singh, with two athletes receiving the Padma Shri.
This remarkable record speaks to Babar’s systematic approach to coaching. Rather than relying on natural talent alone, he identified specific athletic profiles and developed customized training regimens to maximize each athlete’s potential. His decision to transition Sriram Singh from 400m to 800m exemplifies this analytical approach—Babar understood that Singh’s physiological and psychological makeup suited middle-distance running better than the sprint-endurance hybrid demanded by the 400 meters.
Babar’s coaching philosophy emphasized scientific training methods combined with mental fortitude. He recognized that competing at the international level required not just physical conditioning but also the psychological resilience to perform under pressure. Singh’s ability to compete in Olympic finals and consistently win Asian championships reflected this holistic coaching approach.
The Babar–Singh partnership established benchmarks that elevated Indian middle-distance running. Singh’s 42-year national record demonstrated that Indian athletes could compete at world-class levels when provided proper coaching, infrastructure, and support. This achievement inspired subsequent generations of runners, creating a psychological breakthrough that excellence was achievable.
Babar’s influence extended beyond his direct trainees. His coaching methodologies and success stories became case studies for aspiring coaches across India. The military sports system he worked within became a model for athletic development, demonstrating how institutional support combined with expert coaching could produce international-level athletes.
The story of Sriram Singh and Ilyas Babar represents more than individual achievement—it embodies the transformative power of visionary coaching. Babar’s ability to recognize Singh’s potential, strategically redirect his focus, and systematically develop him into an Olympic finalist and Asian champion created a template for excellence in Indian athletics.
Mohammed Ilyas Babar passed away on July 30, 2002, but his legacy lives on through the records, medals, and inspiration generated by his athletes. Sriram Singh’s enduring national record stands as a monument to Babar’s coaching brilliance—a reminder that behind every great athlete stands a coach whose vision, dedication, and expertise make greatness possible. In India’s continuing quest for athletic excellence, the Babar–Singh partnership remains a golden standard, proving that with the right guidance, Indian athletes can not only compete but dominate on the world stage.
