Photos: National boxing medallist struggles as paperboy in Pune

Residents of Dattawadi area may not know that the athletic newspaper delivery youth is a national-level boxer. Hailing from a poor family, 22-year-old Akshay Mare is unable to afford a good diet which is essential for his boxing career (Pratham Gokhale/HT PHOTO)

Updated on: Jul 31, 2017 4:47 PM IST

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Residents of Dattawadi area may not know that the athletic newspaper delivery youth is a national-level boxer. Hailing from a poor family, 22-year-old Akshay Mare is unable to afford a good diet which is essential for his boxing career (Pratham Gokhale/HT PHOTO)

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Akshay Mare, a national bronze winner and four-time state gold medallist, is fighting the battle of poverty outside of the ropes . (Pratham Gokhale/HT PHOTO)

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Akshay’s day begins early morning when he leaves the one-room house, that he shares with his brothers Tushar and Vishal, and parents, in the Dandekar Bridge slum area, and reaches the newspaper distribution hub at Appa Balwant Chowk, four kilometres away, to pick up his bundles. (Pratham Gokhale/HT PHOTO)

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While he is a newspaper boy of the Dattawadi area for the past eight years, his elder brother Vishal delivers milk. (Pratham Gokhale/HT PHOTO)

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After his strenuous morning routine, Akshay returns home and rushes to the Gen. Arunkumar Vaidya stadium in Bhawani Peth for training. (Pratham Gokhale/HT PHOTO)

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At Arunkumar Vaidya stadium he works hard on his fitness, strength and technique under the watchful eyes of coach Vijay Gujar. (Pratham Gokhale/HT PHOTO)

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In December 2016, Akshay played his first-ever senior national at Guwahati and returned with a medal in the light fly (46-49kg) category. He also earned the most promising pugilist award at the state level. (Pratham Gokhale/HT PHOTO)

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Unfortunately, after these stunning victories did not change the fundamentals of his life. He was forced to continue being a newspaper boy and forced to skip his morning training. (Pratham Gokhale/HT PHOTO)

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The boxing workout being physically intense, Akshay returns home only to hit the bed and get rest before getting up early next morning for paper delivery. (Pratham Gokhale/HT PHOTO)

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Akshay plays with his pet parrot outside his house at Dandekar bridge. (Pratham Gokhale/HT PHOTO)

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Akshay, who is now preparing for the upcoming nationals to be held in September, is eagerly waiting for a call from the Indian Army’s Bombay Engineering Group (BEG) for possible recruitment. (Pratham Gokhale/HT PHOTO)