Chola Chiefs Break Losing Streak in Thrilling Archery Premier League Showdown
Chasing Teams Dominate in APL Season 2
In Hyderabad, Telangana, on October 15, the Archery Premier League Season 2 witnessed a remarkable turn of events as the bottom-ranked Chola Chiefs set the stage for a day dominated by teams chasing victories. The top three teams, Mighty Marathas, Kakatiya Knights, and Prithviraaj Yodhas, all faced unexpected defeats.
Starting the day with 10 points, both the Mighty Marathas and Kakatiya Knights were close to securing playoff spots but were met with fierce competition from Rajputana Royals and Chero Archers. The Royals triumphed with a score of 6-2, while Chero Archers delivered a stunning 6-0 sweep against the Knights, according to a statement from the league.
The highlight of the day was the thrilling match between the Chola Chiefs and Prithviraaj Yodhas, where the Chiefs ended their five-match losing streak. The match concluded in a nail-biting Hit-or-Miss shoot-off after a 4-4 tie in regulation time.
Colombia's Alejandra Usquiano and India's Yuktha Sri Kondapavuluri hit the golden X-ring during the tiebreaker, securing a 2-0 victory for the Chiefs. This win was crucial for the Chiefs, who had not tasted victory since the second day of the tournament, as they moved to four points, keeping their playoff hopes alive.
Despite a strong performance from Gatha Khadake of the Yodhas, who clinched the final set, the Chiefs held their ground. Usquiano's impressive performance, finishing with a perfect score of 80 out of 80 in regulation, marked one of the season's standout individual displays.
The Archery Premier League, the world's first franchise-based archery league, is organized by the Archery Association of India and features six teams with a total of 48 archers, including 36 Indian talents and 12 elite international competitors. The league is currently taking place at People’s Plaza in Hyderabad and will conclude with a grand finale on October 18.
This season introduces a new playoff format that rewards higher-ranked teams, allowing the top two teams multiple chances to qualify for the final. The third and fourth-placed teams will compete in an Eliminator match on October 17, with the winner advancing to face the second finalist.
In the second match of the day, the Mighty Marathas struggled, failing to shoot their 8th arrow in both the first and second sets, leading to a 6-2 defeat against the Royals, highlighted by Tokyo Olympic champion Mete Gazoz's impressive final arrow.
The Knights, missing star archer Neeraj Chauhan, faced a steady Chero Archers team, led by exceptional performances from Atanu Das and world number one Mathias Fullerton.
On the same day, India's Asian Games medallists in archery met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Delhi.
Looking ahead, the next matches will feature the defending champions Rajputana Royals against the Chola Chiefs, followed by Prithviraaj Yodhas facing Kakatiya Knights, and finally, Mighty Marathas taking on Chero Archers.
Fans can catch the Archery Premier League Season 2 on various platforms, including SonyLIV, Doordarshan, the Archery Association of India YouTube channel, and Archery+. Tickets are available through District by Zomato.
BEST ARCHERS OF THE DAY (Rs 1 lakh reward each): Recurve male: Atanu Das (Chero); Recurve female: Sangeeta (Royals); Compound male: Ojas Deotale (Royals); Compound female: Alejandra Usquiano (Chiefs).
SCORES: DAY 8 (October 15) As of 8:30 P.M.: Match 1: Chola Chiefs 4-4 (76-72, 78-77, 73-75, 74-77) Prithviraaj Yodhas. Chiefs won Hit-or-Miss Shootoff 2-0; Match 2: Rajputana Royals 6-2 (77-65, 75-66, 73-76, 77-74) Mighty Marathas; Match 3: Chero Archers 6-0 (76-73, 77-76, 75-74) Kakatiya Knights.