In Pics | Indian athletes who rose from poverty

Sports have always offered a solace to many to escape their daily life struggles. While athletes get noticed only after their win, what remains invisible is their struggle to victory. Here are some athletes who hailed from poor families and lived in difficult conditions but made India proud on the international stage.

Sanket Sagar: Sanket was born in a poor family in Sangli, Maharashtra in 2001. Growing up, he assisted his father, who runs a paan shop, by serving customers paan and tea at his tapri. Sagar, a three-time national champion, was inducted into the national camp in NIS Patiala in February 2021. Since then, he has been under the tutelage of India head coach Vijay Sharma. Credit: Twitter/PCMohanMP

Bindyarani Devi: Bindyarani was born into a poor household in Manipur. Her father runs a grocery shop and she used to assist him. Bindya took up weightlifting not out of passion but because of her short height. Earlier, she was into taekwondo, but due to her weight, she shifted to weightlifting. Her dedication to the sport has brought glory to the nation. Credit: Reuters Photo

Mirabai Chanu: Mirabai Chanu is perhaps the most inspiring of athletes who rose from poverty. Born into a family of six children, Mirabai's childhood was tough since family resources were meagre. Her father Saikhom Kriti Singh worked as a construction worker in Manipur. While other children were studying, Chanu used to carry firewood on her head at a tender age. Her victories are synonymous with her hard work. Credit: PTI Photo

Gururaja Poojary: Gururaja was born into extreme poverty in a household in Vandse, Karnataka in 1992. While his father was a truck driver, his mother was a homemaker. Gururaja has seen several hardships and his family sacrificed a lot to put him on the path to success. His dedication to weightlifting has made him one of the most sought-after athletes who has made the country proud on several occasions. Credit: PTI Photo

OP Jaisha: Surrounded by poverty and sub-optimal living conditions, OP Jaisha's journey is no less than a dream. Jaisha lost her father when she was five and her family struggled to make ends meet. It was reported that she used to eat mud to survive. She walked miles to sell milk. Her passion for sports made her an athlete. She is the current national record holder in the marathon, a distinction she achieved at the 2015 World Championships. Credit: DH Photo