The Archery Premier League (APL) is set for a bigger second season, with 36 of India’s leading archers set to compete alongside 12 international stars from 10 countries in Hyderabad from October 8 to 18. The expanded field brings together Olympic medallists, world champions, World Cup winners and some of the biggest names in the sport, adding further international flavour to the six-franchise competition.
Four-time Olympian Deepika Kumari and World Championship silver medallist Atanu Das headline India’s recurve contingent, with reigning Asian champion Dhiraj Bommadevara also part of the field. The compound section features 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 international contingent is led by 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. Dutch compound star Mike Schloesser, a former World Champion and four-time World Cup Final winner, will also compete.
The league will also feature all 12 members of India’s Asian Games-bound archery squad, giving the APL added relevance ahead of the country’s campaign in Aichi-Nagoya later this month. Among those entering the league for the first time are 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.
The second season will retain one of the league’s most distinctive features – its 15-second shot clock. Five seconds quicker than the standard Olympic timing, the format is designed to place greater emphasis on speed, decision-making and composure under pressure. Initiated by the Archery Association of India with the support of the Government of Telangana, the league will feature six mixed-gender franchise teams competing across the Recurve and Compound categories. The 11-day tournament will be held at People’s Plaza on Hyderabad’s Necklace Road. Rajputana Royals won the inaugural edition, which also generated significant digital engagement among younger audiences.
