From Nagoya Glory to Hyderabad: Asian Games Stars Gear Up for Archery Premier League Season 2

Hyderabad, October 5: After the gold rush in Nagoya, the Indian archers will turn their focus to franchise competitions now as the second season of the Archery Premier League (APL) is set to begin in Hyderabad on October 8. The continental campaign in Japan recently brought the Indian archers to their absolute best.

Seventeen-year-old Kumkum Anil Mohod became the first Indian to win an individual Asian Games gold in recurve archery, while Jyothi Surekha Vennam helped India defend its women's team gold and Sahil Rajesh Jadhav won two golds.

In Hyderabad, these archers will carry this form into their respective franchises, competing alongside some of the world's leading archers. Asian Games Gold medalists Kumkum and Sahil will team up for Chero Archers alongside Danish star Mathias Fullerton and two-time Olympian Atanu Das, giving the franchise two in-form Asian Games performers.

Chola Chiefs will feature Asian Games double gold medallist Chikitha Taniparthi alongside Brazil's Marcus D'Almeida, with Deepika Kumari and Rajat Chauhan adding experience.
Defending champions Rajputana Royals will rely on Tokyo Olympic champion Mete Gazoz, British star Ella Gibson, Asian Games gold medallist Ankita Bhakat, Ojas Pravin Deotale and Kushal Dalal.

Dhiraj Bommadevara, Dutch compound star Mike Schloesser and Mexican Olympic medallist Alejandra Valencia will lead the charge for Mighty Marathas. Meanwhile, Jyothi Surekha Vennam will spearhead Kakatiya Knights' campaign, backed by Nico Wiener, Elia Canales and Asian Games silver medallist Neeraj Chauhan. Prithviraaj Yodhas have put together a formidable combination featuring Andrea Becerra and former Asian Games champion Abhishek Verma. Matias Grande, Gatha Anandrao Khadake and Asian Games gold medallist Kirti Sharma round out the squad.

APL Director Anil Kamineni said India's Asian Games success has set an exciting stage for the second season, with medallists now facing each other alongside top international archers. He expects the 15-second format to produce a closely contested league.

AAI Secretary General Virender Sachdeva said, "The league will help Indian archers to build on their international performances through regular competition with Olympic and World champions, while inspiring the next generation to take up the sport."

For the Asian Games medallists, Hyderabad will offer a new challenge as teammates become franchise rivals and global stars join forces in the race for the APL title.

APL Season 2: Schedule & Squad Details

Running until October 18 at People's Plaza on Necklace Road, APL Season 2 will feature 48 archers across six franchises, equally divided between men and women in recurve and compound events. The league's 15-second shot clock adds another test, requiring archers to make quick decisions and deliver under pressure.

KAKATIYA KNIGHTS

Nico Wiener (Austria), Elia Canales (Spain), Neeraj Chauhan, Jyothi Surekha Vennam, Rohit Kumar, Avneet Kaur, Shivshankar Sakharam Landkar and Ridhi.

PRITHVIRAJ YODHAS

Matias Grande (Mexico), Andrea Maya Becerra Arizaga (Mexico), Abhishek Verma, Gatha Anandrao Khadake, Thirumuru Ganesh Mani Ratnam, Raj Kaur, Juyel Sarkar and Kirti Sharma.

RAJPUTANA ROYALS (Defending Champions)

Kushal Dalal, Ojas Pravin Deotale, Ella Gibson (Great Britain), Swati Dudhwal, Mete Gazoz (Türkiye), Abhyuday Amol Pakhale, Ankita Bhakat and Sangeeta.

CHERO ARCHERS

Mathias Fullerton (Denmark), Sahil Rajesh Jadhav, Prithika Pradeep, Jasveer Kaur, Yashdeep Bhoge, Atanu Das, Casey Kaufhold (USA) and Kumkum Anil Mohod.

MIGHTY MARATHAS

Mike Schloesser (Netherlands), Aman Saini, Parneet Kaur, Madhura Dhamangaonkar, Dhiraj Bommadevara, Mrinal Chauhan, Alejandra Valencia Trujillo (Mexico) and Simranjeet Kaur.

CHOLA CHIEFS

Rishabh Yadav, Rajat Chauhan, Alejandra Usquiano (Colombia), Chikitha Taniparthi, Marcus D'Almeida (Brazil), Pawan, Deepika Kumari and Yuktha Sri Kondapavuluri.

Where to Watch the Archery Premier League Season 2?

Fans can watch APL Season 2 live on Sony Liv, World Archery TV, and the Archery Association of India's YouTube channels from October 8 to 18.