Bhubaneswar: An athlete plays with a goal to bring laurels for the country making the native proud. With failure or after end of sports career, he is left alone to struggle and remains unwanted in society. The heart rendering tale of an ace boxer of Odisha Ramuri Singhrai is the burning example of the fact.

The veteran sportsperson Ramuri Singhrai (42), who was the star and icon for others in field of boxing during 80s and 90s, is now struggling for survival amidst poverty. He spends days in hunger and suffers from paralysis post retirement from the game.

Born on January 7, 1975 in Rourkela, the Jharkhand-origin Ramuri had entered the Boxing ring at the age of only 10. He had bagged golds, silvers, bronzes for the State in national competitions till 1995. He quit the sports in 1998 under pressure in family and financial crisis.

Although, he remained active in boxing as the coach, but he had to stop it after his health condition deteriorated.

Away from government assistance, he is now living a miserable life with his wife Sukrumani at Kandari slum located in sector 7 in Odisha's steel city Rourkela.

Almost many times, the grocery store, which is the only source of his income, is found closed as he is unable to sit in a place for long hours due to ill health.

Earlier, Ramuri had visited Sports Director's office in Bhubaneswar seeking government assistance. However, he returned with empty hands as he is unaware of the procedures to apply before the authorities for aid. He had also applied for job many a time, but his efforts went in vain.