Second Archery Premier League Edition Set With Star-Studded Field
Top Indian and international archers set for the tournament.
The second edition of the Archery Premier League (APL) is set to feature a strong India-focused field, with 36 leading Indian archers joining 12 international stars from 10 countries in Hyderabad from October 8 to 18. The expanded six-franchise competition will bring together Olympic medallists, world champions and World Cup winners, giving Indian archers an opportunity to compete against some of the sport’s leading global names.
India’s recurve contingent will be led by four-time Olympian Deepika Kumari and World Championship silver medallist Atanu Das, while reigning Asian champion Dhiraj Bommadevara will also compete. In compound archery, the field includes multi-time World Cup and Asian Games champion Jyothi Surekha Vennam, former World No. 1 Abhishek Verma and former World Champion Ojas Pravin Deotale.
The Indian roster has been selected based on World Archery and national rankings and includes both experienced competitors and emerging talent. Of the 36 Indian archers, 21 participated in the inaugural APL season, while 15 will make their debut in the second edition. New entrants include World Championships silver medallist Rajat Chauhan, World Cup stage gold medallist Ridhi, World University Games gold medallist Kushal Dalal and junior national champion Kirti Sharma.
Also Read: Brady and Strahan Blend Nostalgia and Star Power For NFL
The international field will add further competition for the Indian archers, with Tokyo 2020 Olympic champion Mete Gazoz of Türkiye, Paris 2024 bronze medallist Casey Kaufhold of the United States, Brazil’s World No. 1 Marcus D’Almeida and Great Britain’s World No. 2 Ella Gibson among the participants. The compound field will also feature Dutch star Mike Schloesser, a former World Champion and four-time World Cup Final winner. All 12 members of India’s Asian Games-bound archery squad are also part of the league.
The second season will retain the APL’s distinctive 15-second shot clock, which is five seconds quicker than the standard Olympic timing. The format is intended to put greater emphasis on speed, decision-making and composure under pressure. The tournament, initiated by the Archery Association of India with support from the Telangana government, will feature six mixed-gender franchise teams competing across the Recurve and Compound categories.
The 11-day competition will be held at People’s Plaza on Hyderabad’s Necklace Road, with matches scheduled from 7:30 pm to 9:30 pm each evening. The six teams are Chero Archers of Jharkhand, Chola Chiefs of Tamil Nadu, Kakatiya Knights of Telangana, Mighty Marathas of Maharashtra, PrithviRaj Yodhas of Delhi and defending champions Rajputana Royals of Rajasthan. With a larger international presence and a mix of established Indian stars and younger archers, APL Season 2 will provide another platform for Indian competitors to gain high-level competitive exposure.
Also Read: Josh Allen's Powerful New Reason to Play: Fatherhood
