Hyderabad is set to become the hub of international archery this October as the second season of the Archery Premier League (APL) heads to the City of Pearls. The tournament will be held from October 8 to 18 at People’s Plaza on Necklace Road, bringing together six franchise teams and some of the biggest names in the sport.
Organised by the Archery Association of India (AAI) with the support of the Government of Telangana, the 11-day event aims to build on the success of its inaugural season in New Delhi and further strengthen India’s pathway towards Olympic success.
The league will feature an impressive lineup of Indian and international archers, including former World No. 1 and four-time Olympian Deepika Kumari, four-time Olympian Atanu Das, 2023 Compound World Champion Ojas Deotale, compound stars Jyoti Surekha Vennam and Abhishek Verma, along with Olympian Ankita Bhakat.
They will compete alongside several elite international archers, including Olympic and world champions, making APL one of the strongest archery events outside major global championships.
Unique format designed for high-pressure competition
Launched in 2025, the Archery Premier League was created to provide Indian archers with a world-class competitive environment ahead of future Olympic cycles.
APL is currently the world’s only franchise-based archery league and enjoys the support of World Archery and World Archery Asia.
The competition also features a unique 15-second shot clock, five seconds shorter than the 20-second limit used in Olympic and World Archery events, placing greater emphasis on speed, composure and decision-making under pressure.
Six franchises to battle for the title
The tournament will feature six teams:
- Mighty Marathas
- Rajputana Royals
- Prithviraaj Yodhas
- Kakatiya Knights
- Chero Archers
- Chola Chiefs
A total of 48 Indian and international archers will compete across recurve and compound disciplines.
Each franchise will field a mixed squad of eight archers, with the league following a double round-robin format. The top four teams will qualify for the semi-finals before the championship match on October 18.
APL Director Anil Kamineni said Hyderabad’s sporting culture makes it an ideal host for the second season.
“The inaugural season demonstrated not only the immense potential of archery as a spectator sport but also the value of creating a platform where Indian archers can compete alongside the world’s best. Our focus remains on strengthening India’s archery ecosystem and inspiring the next generation of talent.”
Meanwhile, AAI secretary general and APL director Virendra Sachdeva said the league was conceived with the larger goal of improving India’s Olympic prospects.
“For our athletes to consistently compete for medals on the world’s biggest stages, they need regular exposure to the highest standards of competition, and that is what the league seeks to provide. At the same time, APL has created a unique global model by combining elite international participation with a franchise-based format.”
Rajputana Royals enter as defending champions
The inaugural edition of the Archery Premier League crowned Rajputana Royals as champions and featured several international stars, including Olympic gold medallist Mete Gazoz and Compound World Champion Ella Gibson.
With an expanded spotlight and another star-studded field, Season 2 promises to further elevate the profile of archery in India.