SKR Ramachandra was appointed Singapore's national bodybuilding coach in 1972. He held the appointment until 1987 when he was awarded the award of Coach of the Year for his unstinting commitment to the sport of bodybuilding.

Chandra, as he is affectionately known, has been the architect behind some of the nation's best bodybuilders - Rohmat Juraimi, Moh Teck Hin and Fatholomein Ali, to name just a few.

When Chandra was voted the Coach of the Year '87, it was also the first time that the sport of bodybuilding had won the prestigious 'Coach of the Year' accolade.

That same year ('87), Chandra's bodybuilding contingent brought back 6 golds, 1 silver and a bronze medal from the Mr Asia competition held in Malacca, Malaysia.

Later that year, in September, bodybuilding made its debut at the SEA Games in Jakarta whereby Singapore's contingent of bodybuilders atttained 3 golds and 2 silvers - a commendable performance by coach Chandra's team and a feather in the cap for the local bodybuilding fratenity.

It was that stellar SEA Games performance that earned for Chandra the Coach of the Year award, an achievement that he had not expected to achieve even though he was thoroughly deserving of it for his two decade long service to the sport of bodybuilding in the Republic.

Local coaching's most esteemed award was befittingly awarded to a man who was himself a keen bodybuilder prior to his coaching days. Chandra himself possessed a physique that was the envy of many a local bodybuilder.

In his heydays, Chandra had won himself titles at events such as the Mr Evergreen ('52), Mr Ponggol ('56-'58), Mr Ironman ('58), Mr Singapore ('59,'65), Mr Body Beautiful ('62) and Mr Veteran Singapore ('75).

During his bodybuilding and coaching years, the dedicated weightlifter and coach would whisk off to the gymnasium after his work at 3pm to start his coaching routine with his young bodybuilding apprentices,

It had become a daily routine and he preferred no other - such was the dedication of the man to his beloved sport. S K R Ramachandra was a true reflection of the sport of bodybuilding in Singapore.