Jharkhand now targeting Olympics gold in archery

Boasted by the performance of Jharkhand archers at the ongoing Commonwealth Games at Delhi, the Jharkhand Archery Association (JAA) is now targeting an Olympics gold.

"We are targeting Olympics gold in archery in its next edition and we will provide all facilities to the archers to ensure it," JAA president Sanjiv Paul said here.

"I am confident that the present lot of archers such as Deepika (a TAA cadet) and Rahul (an ex-cadet and now on contract with Tata Steel) will fulfil the country's dream of an Olympic gold in archery," Paul said.

Hailing the medal winning efforts of the state archers, including gold medallists in individual event Deepika Kumari and Rahul Banerjee, Paul said Korean coach Lim Chai Wong was engaged to improve performance of the archers four years ago.

"But he used to visit us at regular interval to train them. As we are aiming a gold in the Olympics, we will certainly discuss to engage him on permanent basis," Paul said adding that the issue will be discussed after the archers return from the forthcoming Asian Games.

Describing the facilities available in Jamshedpur as "world-class", he said they would continue to visit deep rural pockets and pick talents to nurture them to make world class archers.