MUMBAI: There are countless sportspersons in this country who continue to suffer from heartbreaking fates. Despite brining prestigious medals for the country, they do not get what they deserve.

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Take a look at some of India's greatest athletes who died in poverty despite being Olympians.

Makhan Singh: Makhan Singh is the only Indian to have beaten Milkha Singh, in the 400-meter race. He was a part of the Indian men’s 4×400 meter relay and 4×100 meter relay teams in the 1964 Tokyo Olympics. However, he lost his leg in an accident and then had to live out the rest of his days in poverty. 

Major Dhyan Chand: Arguably India's greatest sportsperson, whose birthday is also celebrated at National Sports Day, Major Dhyan Chand scored more than 400 goals during his international career. But he too, spent later part of his life in absolute poverty and passed away penniless.

Shankar Laxman: Laxman played three successive Olympics finals for India and was also a member of the gold-winning hockey squad of 1956 and 1958. But he too died in abject poverty at the age of 73, suffering from gangrene.

Sita Sahu: A medalist at the Special Olympics in Athens in 2011 from Rewa, Madhya Pradesh, Sita Sahu had resort to selling golgappas for a living. Speaking to reporters, she had said, “I don't even remember the last time my family had a complete meal. We have been forced to sell chaats as my husband cannot take on a physically demanding job. This is our only source of income and life has been going on like this for the past many years. The lack of support or empathy occasionally does demoralise me; even the government has not helped us.” It was only three years after that the government rewarded her a sum of Rs 3 lakh.

Keep reading this space for more updates.

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CREDIT: SCOOPWHOOP