Archery Premier League: Prithviraaj Yodhas Beat Chero Archers 5-1 to Keep Season 2 Title Hopes Alive

Hyderabad, October 17: Prithviraaj Yodhas kept their title hopes alive in Archery Premier League (APL) Season 2 with a convincing 5-1 victory over Chero Archers in Eliminator 1 on Saturday, following a dominant win over defending champions Rajputana Royals earlier in the day.

Facing a must-win situation to secure a playoff berth, the Yodhas first swept past Rajputana Royals 6-0 in their final league-stage match before carrying that momentum into the knockout contest against Chero Archers.

The women's contingent played a pivotal role in the Yodhas' success. Sixteen-year-old recurve talent Gatha Khadake scored an impressive 56 out of 60, while compound specialist Andrea Becerra delivered a perfect 60. Gatha had also scored 56 against the Royals, earning the award for the best female recurve archer of the day.

Becerra was equally exceptional, maintaining a flawless record across both matches by hitting the 10-ring with every arrow to finish the day with a perfect 120 out of 120.

Yodhas Seize Control in First Eliminator

The knockout contest began with both teams sharing the opening set at 75-75 in challenging, gusty conditions that made Saturday one of the toughest shooting days of the tournament.

Gatha opened with an 8 but recovered strongly as the Yodhas settled into the contest. Chero, meanwhile, struggled to maintain consistency, with an 8 from Atanu Das proving costly in the opening set.

The Yodhas gained the upper hand in the second set, scoring 77 against Chero's 74. Compound archers Ganesh Mani Ratnam Thirumuru and Becerra played key roles in helping their team establish an advantage.

Prithviraaj Yodhas raised their game further in the third set, combining for an outstanding 79 through Ganesh, Becerra, Gatha and Matias Grande. Chero, despite making a promising start, lost momentum and managed only 75, leaving the Yodhas firmly in control.

The 5-1 victory ensured the Yodhas advanced in the knockout stage and remained in contention for the Season 2 title.

Chero Edge Chola Chiefs, Kakatiyas Finish on Top

Chero Archers had also faced a high-pressure contest earlier in the day, needing to defeat Chola Chiefs to progress to the playoffs.

The teams finished their match level at 4-4, forcing a shoot-off. Compound world No. 1 Mathias Fullerton emerged as the difference-maker, becoming the only archer to hit the inner yellow ring in the Hit-or-Miss shoot-off to help Chero secure the win.

However, their campaign suffered a setback in Eliminator 1 against the in-form Yodhas.

In the day's opening match, Kakatiya Knights delivered a commanding 6-0 victory over Mighty Marathas in a clash between the top two teams to finish the league stage at the summit of the standings.

The result set up another meeting between the two sides on Sunday, with a place in the grand finale at stake.

APL Season 2 Finale on Sunday

Sunday's action will begin with a rematch between Mighty Marathas and Kakatiya Knights, with the winner becoming the first finalist of the season. The losing team will then face Prithviraaj Yodhas in the next contest, with the winner progressing to the grand finale.

The tournament will conclude on October 18 at People's Plaza in Hyderabad.

Initiated by the Archery Association of India, the Archery Premier League is billed as the world's first franchise-based archery league. Season 2 features six teams and 48 archers, comprising 36 Indian competitors and 12 elite international stars.