The world's only franchise-based archery league returns today, with Season 2 of the Archery Premier League getting underway in Hyderabad from October 8 to 18, fresh off India's record-breaking showing in archery at the Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya.
A league of its own
After a successful inaugural season in New Delhi, the Archery Premier League (APL) moves to the People's Plaza on Hyderabad's Necklace Road for its second edition. The league's timing could hardly be better: India's archers finished as the best contingent in the sport at the Asian Games, ahead of traditional powerhouse South Korea.
The APL's format is unlike regular World Archery events. Archers must release each arrow in an average of just 15 seconds — a quicker deadline that adds visible pressure — and recurve and compound archers face off against each other, a novelty for the sport. National teammates will sometimes shoot against one another, with franchise colours replacing country flags.
Stars on show
Among the headline names is Telangana archer Chikitha Taniparthi, fresh from her Asian Games gold-medal exploits, who will shoot on home soil. The Peddapalli archer said the league's first season, when she played for the Chola Chiefs, taught her to handle the faster shot clock and improved her game ahead of the Asian Games.
Former world No. 1 Deepika Kumari returns for the Chola Chiefs, while Paris Olympics mixed-team bronze medallist Casey Kaufhold of the United States makes her APL debut for Chero Archers. Mexico's Alejandra Valencia represents the Mighty Marathas, Austria's Nico Wiener — the first Austrian to win a World Cup final title — turns out for Kakatiya Knights, and Ojas Pravin Deotale, last season's finale hero, is back after guiding Rajputana Royals to the title. The league unveiled an anthem and a mascot at Wednesday's launch event.
Sources:
- Spotlight on India's Asiad stars as Archery Premier League returns — New Indian Express
A league of its own
After a successful inaugural season in New Delhi, the Archery Premier League (APL) moves to the People's Plaza on Hyderabad's Necklace Road for its second edition. The league's timing could hardly be better: India's archers finished as the best contingent in the sport at the Asian Games, ahead of traditional powerhouse South Korea.
The APL's format is unlike regular World Archery events. Archers must release each arrow in an average of just 15 seconds — a quicker deadline that adds visible pressure — and recurve and compound archers face off against each other, a novelty for the sport. National teammates will sometimes shoot against one another, with franchise colours replacing country flags.
Stars on show
Among the headline names is Telangana archer Chikitha Taniparthi, fresh from her Asian Games gold-medal exploits, who will shoot on home soil. The Peddapalli archer said the league's first season, when she played for the Chola Chiefs, taught her to handle the faster shot clock and improved her game ahead of the Asian Games.
Former world No. 1 Deepika Kumari returns for the Chola Chiefs, while Paris Olympics mixed-team bronze medallist Casey Kaufhold of the United States makes her APL debut for Chero Archers. Mexico's Alejandra Valencia represents the Mighty Marathas, Austria's Nico Wiener — the first Austrian to win a World Cup final title — turns out for Kakatiya Knights, and Ojas Pravin Deotale, last season's finale hero, is back after guiding Rajputana Royals to the title. The league unveiled an anthem and a mascot at Wednesday's launch event.
Sources:
- Spotlight on India's Asiad stars as Archery Premier League returns — New Indian Express
