The world of archery is poised for an exciting transformation with the recent launch of the inaugural Archery Premier League (APL) in New Delhi. This new league has successfully drafted 48 top-tier Indian and international archers into six distinct franchises, marking a significant step towards popularizing the sport.
Scheduled to run from October 2nd to 12th, the intense 10-day competition will unfold at the Yamuna Sports Complex. Teams will battle it out in a double round-robin format, culminating in gripping semifinals and a grand final. Each franchise boasts a diverse roster of eight archers – four men and four women – including two accomplished international talents. The Archery Association of India is committed to enhancing the viewing experience through innovative format adjustments and dynamic presentation.
Fans can look forward to seeing prominent Indian archers in action, such as Deepika Kumari and Dhiraj Bommadevara leading the recurve category, while Jyothi Surekha Vennam and Rishabh Yadav stand out as top-ranked Indian compound archers. The international contingent is equally impressive, featuring World No. 1 compound archers Andrea Becerra from Mexico and Mike Schloesser from the Netherlands, alongside legendary recurve archer Brady Ellison of the USA. Notably, powerhouse South Korea has opted not to participate in this edition.
APL Director Anil Kamineni shed light on some of the exciting new aspects of the league: “For the very first time, we will witness combined mixed teams of recurve and compound archers competing together. The shooting distances will adhere to Olympic standards – 70 meters for recurve and 50 meters for compound. To heighten the drama, three matches will be held every day under lights, with each match, involving four archers, lasting a swift 20 minutes and shooting time dramatically reduced to just 15 seconds.”
Jyothi Surekha Vennam, a World No. 3 in compound archery and a mixed team world record holder, expressed her enthusiasm for the APL. “Many people aren’t fully aware of what competitive archery truly entails,” Jyothi remarked. “It’s only when more individuals engage with the sport that we can discover new talent. You learn something valuable from every tournament, and I am confident the APL will offer a similar enriching experience.”
Meet the Teams:
- Prithviraj Yodhas (Delhi):
- Recurve: Matias Grande, Krish Kumar, Gatha Anandrao, Sharvari Somnath
- Compound: Abhishek Verma, Priyansh, Andrea Becerra, Pranjal Salve
- Rajputana Royals (Rajasthan):
- Recurve: Mete Gazoz, Sachin Gupta, Ankita Bhakat, Basanti Mahato
- Compound: Prathamesh Fuge, Ojas Deotale, Ella Gibson, Swati Dudhwal
- Kakatiya Knights (Telangana):
- Recurve: Neeraj Chauhan, Rohit Kumar, Elia Canales, Tisha Punia
- Compound: Nico Wiener, Jignas, Jyothi Surekha Vennam, Avneet Kaur
- Mighty Marathas (Maharashtra):
- Recurve: Dhiraj Bommadevara, Mrinal Chauhan, Alejandra Valencia, Bhajan Kaur
- Compound: Mike Schloesser, Aman Saini, Parneet Kaur, Madhura D
- Chero Archers (Jharkhand):
- Recurve: Rahul, Atanu Das, Katharina Bauer, Kumkum Mohod
- Compound: Mathias Fullerton, Sahil Rajesh, Prithika Pradeep, Madala Hamsini
- Chola Chiefs (Tamil Nadu):
- Recurve: Brady Ellison, Tarundeep Rai, Deepika Kumari, Anshika Kumari
- Compound: Rishabh Yadav, Pulkit, Meeri-Marita Paas, Taniparthi Chikitha