Too "shy" to even don the gloves when first introduced to boxing, Pooja Rani yesterday became the first Indian woman to claim an Asian Championship gold in the 81kg category after enduring two years of hard luck, which included a burnt hand and a shoulder injury.

Pooja defeated China's Wang Lina in the finals in Bangkok to let go of disappointments that piled over 24 months. Speaking to PTI from Bangkok, Pooja, 28, could hardly contain her joy. "I don't have words to express my joy. Two years of hardships have finally paid off for me," Pooja said. "Such was my luck that in 2016, just before the Nationals [in October-November], I burnt my hand while bursting Diwali crackers. The burns took four months to heal. In 2017, while making a comeback, I sustained a shoulder injury for which the doctors recommended surgery," she added.