New job makes me more hungry: Jayanta

Our Sports Reporter

GUWAHATI: Arjuna Awardee and Olympian archer Jayanta Talukdar, who was recently appointed as Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) in Assam, shared his thoughts with The Sentinel in a candid interview. Here’s what he had to say about his new role, his journey, and future aspirations.

Q: You’ve recently been appointed as DSP in Assam Police. How do you feel about it?

Jayanta: I’m truly delighted. I would like to express my gratitude to Assam’s Chief Minister, Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma, and everyone who supported me in achieving this position. I’ve always wanted to come back home and share my experiences with young archers in the state on a regular basis. This appointment will help me fulfill that goal.

Q: Who do you credit for helping you reach this position?

Jayanta: There are many people I owe my success to. I’ve always received great support from the people of Assam and from Tata Archery Academy in Jamshedpur, where I spent much of my career. But there is one person I deeply miss—my father. He was my first coach and the one who constantly motivated me to push myself further. He would have been the proudest person at this moment if he was still with us.

Q: Do you think the state government’s decision to recruit successful athletes into government jobs will take sports in Assam to greater heights?

Jayanta: Absolutely. During my time, we didn’t have the opportunities that athletes have today in Assam. Now, even winning a medal at the National Games can land you a government job, in addition to international medals. Parents no longer have the excuse to say that pursuing sports is a waste of time. In fact, many are now encouraging their children to pursue sports, and this growing interest will help elevate the standards of games in Assam.

Q: What is the current state of archery in Assam?

Jayanta: There’s a lot of raw talent in archery here, and our young players are performing really well in national competitions. However, we do need a dedicated archery academy in Assam. Many archers face technical challenges when transitioning from junior to senior levels and an academy could address these issues. As I understand, the Assam government plans to establish a full-fledged archery academy, and once it’s in place, it will significantly help improve the game’s standard in the state.

Q: Can we expect to see you training young Assam archers in the future?

Jayanta: Absolutely. I’ve been waiting for this opportunity. I’m eager to share my experiences with the next generation. Back in my time, there weren’t many coaching facilities in Guwahati, and the number of archery ranges was limited. I’ll do my best to give young archers the chance to learn the nuances of the sport and improve their skills.

Q: What are your future plans?

Jayanta: This new role as DSP has made me even hungrier. I’ve won medals in almost every international competition except for the Olympics. Now, I’m fully focused on the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. I’ve already mapped out a plan for that. Archer Rahul Banerjee has set up a nice academy in Kolkata where top archers from across the country come to train. I’m also planning to train there with full dedication, with the ultimate goal of winning an Olympic medal.

Also Read: Assam: ASEBSC Storms into Semis of 70th Bordoloi Trophy

Also Watch: