After Asian Games gold rush, India stars set to shine in Archery Premier League 2

India's Asian Games archery heroes will turn franchise rivals as APL Season 2 begins in Hyderabad on October 8. With 48 Indian and international archers across six teams, the league will offer a fresh test after India's nine-medal haul in Aichi-Nagoya.

In Short

• APL Season 2 will be held in Hyderabad from October 8 to 18 at People’s Plaza.
• India’s archers will switch from national colours to franchise jerseys after their Asian Games success
• India won nine archery medals in Aichi-Nagoya, including five golds.

They stood together for India at the Asian Games. Now, they will line up on opposite sides.

Fresh from a nine-medal haul, including five golds, at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, India’s archery stars will switch national colours for franchise jerseys when the second season of the Archery Premier League (APL) begins in Hyderabad on October 8. The tournament will run until October 18 at People’s Plaza on Necklace Road, bringing together 48 archers across six franchises in recurve and compound events.

India’s archers were among the standout performers in Aichi-Nagoya. 17-year-old Kumkum Anil Mohod emerged as the face of the campaign, becoming the first Indian to win an individual Asian Games gold in recurve. She also won gold in the women’s team event and silver in the mixed team event, finishing the Games with three medals.

Chikitha Taniparthi was another major star, winning two gold medals in compound archery. She helped India win the women’s team title alongside Jyothi Surekha Vennam and Prithika Pradeep before combining with Sahil Rajesh Jadhav to win the mixed team gold. Sahil also contributed to India’s men’s compound team gold, while Dhiraj Bommadevara and Neeraj Chauhan were among the recurve medallists. India eventually finished with five golds, two silvers and two bronzes from 10 archery events.

The Asian Games success has created a fascinating backdrop for APL Season 2. Archers who shared the same colours in Japan will now compete against one another, while international rivals become franchise teammates.

ASIAN GAMES CHAMPIONS BECOME FRANCHISE RIVALS

Kumkum and Sahil will join forces for Chero Archers, giving the franchise two of India’s most in-form archers. They will be joined by Danish compound star Mathias Fullerton, American Olympic bronze medallist Casey Kaufhold and experienced Indian recurve archer Atanu Das.

Chola Chiefs will feature Asian Games double gold medallist Chikitha alongside Brazilian star Marcus D’Almeida, while four-time Olympian Deepika Kumari and Rajat Chauhan add experience to the squad. Chikitha’s Asian Games campaign was particularly impressive, with her two golds underlining the depth of India’s compound programme.

Defending champions Rajputana Royals will also have a strong Indian presence. Asian Games gold medallist Ankita Bhakat, former world champion Ojas Pravin Deotale and Kushal Dalal will join Olympic champion Mete Gazoz and British compound star Ella Gibson as the Royals look to retain their crown.

Mighty Marathas, meanwhile, will have Asian Games silver medallist Dhiraj Bommadevara alongside Dutch compound star Mike Schloesser and Mexican Olympic medallist Alejandra Valencia. Dhiraj’s presence adds considerable strength to a squad that will also feature Parneet Kaur and Madhura Dhamangaonkar.

A FASTER TEST FOR INDIA’S ARCHERY STARS

Jyothi Surekha Vennam, another key figure in India’s Asian Games gold rush, will lead Kakatiya Knights alongside Austria’s Nico Wiener, Spain’s Elia Canales and Asian Games silver medallist Neeraj Chauhan. Jyothi was part of India’s successful women’s compound team in Aichi-Nagoya, while Neeraj secured a bronze in the men’s individual recurve event.

Prithviraaj Yodhas will feature another experienced Indian combination, with former Asian Games gold medallist Abhishek Verma joined by Asian Games women’s recurve team gold medallist Kirti Sharma. Mexican stars Matias Grande and Andrea Becerra add international firepower.

The league will provide a different challenge from the Asian Games. The APL uses a 15-second shot clock, forcing archers to make decisions quickly and execute under pressure. The format brings men and women together across recurve and compound, creating a unique franchise environment.

With six teams and 48 Indian and international archers, the second season promises another high-quality test. For India’s Asian Games medallists, however, the immediate challenge will be adapting from fighting for one country to fighting for six different franchises.

The timing could hardly be better. After establishing their dominance in Aichi-Nagoya, India’s archers now have another stage to test themselves against the best in the world and build momentum towards the next Olympic cycle.

APL SEASON 2 FULL SQUADS

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 (Trkiye), 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.

- Ends