SportsPosted at: Oct 5 2026 8:16PM


Asian Games medallists to turn franchise rivals in APL Season 2 in Hyderabad

Hyderabad, Oct 5 (UNI) Fresh from India’s nine-medal haul, including five golds, at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, the country’s leading archers will turn franchise rivals as the second season of the Archery Premier League (APL) begins here on October 8.
The league will be held at People’s Plaza on Necklace Road from October 8 to 18, featuring 48 archers across six franchises in recurve and compound events, with equal representation of men and women, Archery Association of India (AAI) said in a release on Monday.
A 15-second shot clock will add an element of speed and pressure to the competition.
India’s Asian Games campaign saw 17-year-old Kumkum Anil Mohod become the first Indian to win an individual Asian Games gold in recurve archery. Jyothi Surekha Vennam helped India retain the women’s team gold, while Sahil Rajesh Jadhav won two gold medals.
Kumkum and Sahil will join Chero Archers alongside Denmark’s Mathias Fullerton and two-time Olympian Atanu Das.
Chola Chiefs will feature Asian Games double gold medallist Chikitha Taniparthi alongside Brazil’s Marcus D’Almeida, four-time Olympian Deepika Kumari and World Championships silver medallist Rajat Chauhan.
Defending champions Rajputana Royals will have Tokyo Olympic champion Mete Gazoz and British compound archer Ella Gibson, besides Asian Games gold medallist Ankita Bhakat and former world champion Ojas Pravin Deotale.
Mighty Marathas will field Asian Games silver medallist Dhiraj Bommadevara, Dutch compound archer Mike Schloesser and Mexican Olympic medallist Alejandra Valencia.
Multiple Asian Games gold medallist Jyothi Surekha Vennam will lead Kakatiya Knights alongside Nico Wiener, Elia Canales and Asian Games silver medallist Neeraj Chauhan.
Prithviraaj Yodhas will rely on Andrea Becerra and former Asian Games gold medallist Abhishek Verma, with Matias Grande, Gatha Anandrao Khadake and Asian Games women’s recurve team gold medallist Kirti Sharma also in the squad.
APL Director Anil Kamineni said India’s Asian Games success had provided an exciting backdrop for the second season, with the medallists now competing for rival franchises alongside leading international archers.
Archery Association of India Secretary General Virender Sachdeva said the league would provide Indian archers regular competition against Olympic and world champions while inspiring the next generation to take up the sport.

Archery Association of India, features six franchises and brings together Indian and foreign archers in a mixed recurve and compound team competition.

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Tags: #Asian Games medallists to turn franchise rivals in APL Season 2 in Hyderabad
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