The main-stream of Bengal archery has got a ‘new-kid-on-the-block’ on Thursday. He is Juyel Sarkar from state-government run Bengal Archery Academy (BAA) in Jhargram. 

The promising archer who has already a gold medal in the recurve team event of the Asia Cup Stage II in 2022, won his first gold medal in the individual recurve event in the ongoing National Games on Thursday. This has been Juyel's first medal in a major competition in the senior level.

At the same time, ace female archer, World’s second-ranked Deepika Kumari also won the gold medal in individual event. 

However, both the archers have been training under the guidance of Olympian archer Rahul Banerjee at DRB-Kolkata Police Archery Academy in Kolkata.

Rahul who toured Uttarakhand as the coach of these two archers was amazed to have seen Deepika’s hunger and Jewel’s potential when asked for his reaction. Speaking to Parallel Sports from Dehradun Uttarakhand, Rahul said, “Despite the ups and downs in her career as well as personal obligations I found Deepika has the same tenacity and hunger for achievement which is great. Additionally, the game format has also changed and it has become tougher than before. So now winning gold medals in the changed format is more creditable.”

Commenting on Juyel Sarkar Rahul also sounded highly optimistic. "It was not easy beating Jayanta Talukdar and Tarundeep Rai for a student of 12th standard. Juyel has a huge potential. He will win more medals at the senior level," concluded Rahul.