Jayanta Talukdar in action. File picture

The writer is the working president of the Assam Archery Association and a member-secretary of the state-level advisory committee for Students and Youth Welfare

The sports scenario of the Northeast has never been better. First Lajong FC’s entry into the I-League came as a major boost for football enthusiasts of the region and now the outstanding success of archer Jayanta Talukdar on the world stage has added another feather in Assam’s cap.

These are undoubtedly the best news that the region has received in recent times with respect to sports.

As one associated with the game — and having known the archer even before he was picked up by the Tata Archery Academy in 2000 — we are proud of his feats. His achievements go on to show that our state has the potential to excel globally provided we get the right training, exposure and support.

What is even more laudable and noteworthy about Jayanta’s feat is that he has been excelling against the best in the world since breaking into the big league in 2006, when he won his first individual gold at Porec. This was followed by the team gold at the World Cup last year and the golden double on May 9 this year at Porec.

Therefore, his golden harvest is not a flash in the pan.

Jayanta has remained focussed since his early days in Guwahati when I was the working president of the Guwahati unit of the Assam Archery Association (AAA), which was instrumental in backing Jayanta at the initial stage.

The AAA has been blessed with a hardworking and sincere team that includes president Jayanta Boro, general secretary Ashok Basumatary and joint secretary Pulin Saha.

Jayanta’s success, I am sure, will only motivate the AAA and scores of talented juniors like Rajib Basumatary, Belsri Narzary, Jiten Narzary, Hemanta Basumatary, Sanjay Boro, Pratima Boro, Dipali Boro to do well on the world stage.

These youngsters are part of an ongoing national selection camp in Jharkhand for the Youth World Championship, 2009 to be held in the US in July.

They should all take a leaf out of Jayanta’s career. He has made the most of the chances and opportunities that have come his way, a quality that other sportspersons need to emulate if they want to be consistent instead of being “one-meet wonders”.

We will be doing everything to support Jayanta and other talented archers. As a first step we, the AAA, have planned a grand reception for Jayanta and will move chief minister Tarun Gogoi with a plea to induct him in a state government job so that he can realise his dream of an Olympic gold. That will be the ultimate icing on the cake.

Till then, let us raise a toast to this young archer.