Handicapped by a dislocated thumb and up against a two-time world champion, Indian boxer Vijender Singh [ Images ] on Monday said he managed to pull off the Asian Games gold medal as "luck was back" on his side a month after deserting him at the Commonwealth Games [ Images ].

World number one Vijender blanked Uzbekistan's two-time world champion Abbos Atoev in the Asian Games final despite dislocating his thumb in the opening three minutes of the bout.

Recalling the tense moments, the 25-year-old, whose hand is currently heavily bandaged, said a power-packed left hook led to the dislocation, leaving him to fight practically with one hand.

"My hand was in a terrible state even before the Asian Games but it completely broke at the worst possible time. It was in the closing stages of the first round. I got the score for that left hook but I knew my hand was gone. I immediately told my coach that I cannot move it," Vijender said upon his return to the country from Guangzhou on Monday.

"I asked the coach what the scoreline was, he told me it was 2-0. I thought I will give it a shot and continued. In the second round, I was not using my left hand at all. I was just swaying it once in a while to scare off Atoev, who thankfully didn't get an idea as to what had happened," he said.

"When I took a 5-0 lead in the second round, I knew the bout was mine from here. I kept praying to the Almighty and I think that also helped. In the end, I guess I got lucky, god was with me," he added.

The Olympic [ Images ] and World Championships bronze-medallist had settled for a rather disappointing bronze at the CWG here after losing in the semi-finals due to a couple of warnings for clinching. And Vijender said the Asiad gold has finally wipe off the disappointment.

"That loss completely shattered me. I hadn't felt so miserable in a long time. When I went to the Asiad, I was taking it one bout at a time. I think I peaked at the right time besides China is lucky for me. My rise started in Beijing [ Images ] after all," Vijender said referring to his breakthrough Olympic bronze.

"At the CWG, there were just too many distractions around me. The fact that so many people know me becomes a problem at times because then it takes away the focus. I like to go into a shell during major events. I wanted to keep to myself and focus, and at the Asiad I could do that. There was peace around me and that helped me remain calm," he said.

"Moreover, it was my day. When I lost to Atoev in the World Championships, it was his day. Luck is a major factor. One cannot rule that out," he added.

"My toughest bout was the first one. I took the Chinese Taipei guy lightly initially but he fought hard before I got into the groove at just the right time."

The Haryana-lad also credited Cuban coach B I Fernandes for his success.

"Fernandes has a sharp mind and he keeps giving advice from the sidelines. In Guangzhou, because there was not much noise around me, I could actually hear him and put his advice to use. In Delhi [ Images ], his voice used to get drowned in all the hooting," he explained.

At least a month-long break follows from here before Vijender starts preparing for the World Championships and the Olympic qualifiers for 2012 Games in London [ Images ].

"I am desperate to go home and eat to my heart's content. It's impossible to explain what we go through when we are maintaining weight for tournaments," he signed off.