In his moments of anxiety during or ahead of major events, is it the coaches who help Vijender Singh lift himself mentally? "Not really," said the Olympic and World Championship bronze medallist boxer while opining that it is ultimately the athlete's own strength of character which helps him tide over turbulent times.

The world number one middleweight boxer won a gold medal at last month's Asian Games despite fighting with a dislocated thumb in the final bout against a two-time world champion.