Archery Premier League Season 2 Set to Raise the Bar With Star-Studded Global Field

The Archery Premier League (APL) is preparing to return for its second season with a bigger field, a stronger international presence and a format designed to push archers to their limits. 

Hyderabad will host the 11-day tournament from October 8 to 18, with 36 of India’s leading archers set to compete alongside 12 international stars representing 10 countries. The second edition promises to be more than just a domestic franchise competition. With Olympic champions, world No. 1-ranked archers and former world champions entering the fray, the APL is positioning itself as a serious global platform for the sport while providing Indian archers with an opportunity to compete against some of the best names in the world.

At the forefront of the Indian recurve contingent will be four-time Olympian Deepika Kumari, World Championship silver medallist Atanu Das and reigning Asian champion Dhiraj Bommadevara. The compound section will feature an equally impressive lineup, led by multi-time World Cup and Asian Games champion Jyothi Surekha Vennam, experienced international campaigner Abhishek Verma and former World Champion Ojas Pravin Deotale.

The international contingent adds another dimension to the competition. Türkiye's Tokyo 2020 Olympic champion Mete Gazoz will compete in the recurve men's category, while the women's recurve field includes Paris 2024 bronze medallist Casey Kaufhold of the United States. Brazil's Marcus D’Almeida, currently ranked World No. 1, will also be part of the tournament, while Great Britain's World No. 2 Ella Gibson strengthens the compound women's field.

The compound men's competition will have another major attraction in Dutch star Mike Schloesser. A former World Champion and four-time World Cup Final winner, Schloesser brings considerable experience and pedigree to the APL.

Indian Stars Meet Emerging Talent

The Indian roster has been selected on the basis of World Archery and national rankings and combines established international performers with a new generation of archers. Of the 36 Indian participants, 21 are returning from the inaugural season, while 15 will make their APL debut. Among the newcomers 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. Their inclusion reflects the league's wider objective of giving India's emerging archers exposure to a higher level of competition.

The APL will also have a direct connection with India's immediate international calendar. All 12 members of the Indian archery squad selected for the Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya later this month are part of the APL ecosystem. That creates an interesting bridge between India's continental campaign and the franchise league, with several of the country's leading archers continuing their competitive schedules against elite opposition.

APL Director Anil Kamineni believes the second season can build significantly on the response generated by the inaugural edition. The presence of international stars, he said, would transform the league into a global spectacle while giving Indian athletes the chance to test themselves directly against world-class competition.

The 15-Second Challenge

One of the defining features of the Archery Premier League is its shot clock. Unlike the standard Olympic timing, which allows more time for athletes to execute their shots, APL archers have just 15 seconds. That five-second reduction may appear small, but in elite archery it can make a significant difference. Athletes must assess the situation, control their breathing, settle their technique and release the arrow within a compressed window. The format places an additional premium on decision-making, composure and speed.

For a team-based competition, the faster pace could also add another layer of strategy. With mixed-gender teams competing across recurve and compound categories, every shot can carry greater significance, particularly when momentum begins to shift during a contest.

Season 2 will once again feature six franchises: Chero Archers of Jharkhand, Chola Chiefs of Tamil Nadu, Kakatiya Knights of Telangana, Mighty Marathas of Maharashtra, PrithviRaj Yodhas of Delhi and defending champions Rajputana Royals of Rajasthan. The competition will be staged at People's Plaza on Hyderabad's Necklace Road, with matches scheduled from 7:30 pm to 9:30 pm each evening. The evening schedule is aimed not only at accommodating the competitive requirements of the athletes but also at creating an accessible spectacle for spectators.

The inaugural season generated considerable digital engagement, particularly among younger viewers, and the organisers will hope the expanded international field can take that momentum further.

A Bigger Stage for Indian Archery

The timing of the league also makes Season 2 particularly important for Indian archery. With the Asian Games, World Championships and other international competitions forming part of the broader calendar, Indian athletes increasingly need opportunities to compete under pressure against strong opposition.

The APL provides exactly that environment while placing archery in a franchise-based format designed for spectators. The combination of mixed-gender teams, recurve and compound events, international participation and the 15-second shot clock gives the competition an identity distinct from conventional individual tournaments.

With Olympic champions and world No. 1-ranked athletes standing alongside India's established stars and emerging prospects, Hyderabad is set to become the centre of attention for the archery world in October.

Season 2 therefore arrives with a clear ambition: retain the energy of the inaugural edition while making the Archery Premier League bigger, faster and more international. For India's archers, it will be an opportunity to compete at home against elite opposition. For fans, it could offer a rare chance to see some of the sport's biggest names sharing the same stage.