Excitement Builds for Archery Premier League Season 2 in Hyderabad
Archery Premier League Kicks Off in Hyderabad
Hyderabad (Telangana) [India], October 7: Telangana's own Chikitha Taniparthi, who recently clinched a gold medal at the Asian Games, is eagerly anticipating the start of the second season of the Archery Premier League (APL). This unique franchise-based league for archery will commence on Thursday in Hyderabad, following a successful inaugural season in New Delhi.
The return of the APL aligns with India's remarkable achievements in Aichi-Nagoya, where the archery team outperformed traditional powerhouses like South Korea. From October 8 to 18, top archers will compete at People’s Plaza on Necklace Road in Hyderabad, as announced in a press release from the APL.
This season introduces a fresh format where medal-winning archers will face off against their national teammates, with a rapid shooting pace that allows only 15 seconds per arrow. The league will feature both recurve and compound archers, distinguishing it from standard World Archery events. An anthem and mascot were also revealed during the launch event on Wednesday.
Taniparthi, who hails from Peddapalli, reflected on her experiences from the first season, stating, “Playing for the Chola Chiefs taught me how to handle pressure with the 15-second shot clock and learn from my teammates. This experience contributed to my success at the Asian Games.” She expressed hope that young girls would attend the tournament and be inspired to take up archery.
APL Director Anil Kamineni noted the growing interest in the league since its inception last year. He expressed aspirations to expand the number of teams and explore new locations in future seasons. Kamineni emphasized the importance of showcasing India’s rich archery heritage in a historic city like Hyderabad.
Deepika Kumari, a veteran archer with nearly two decades of experience, shared her thoughts on the APL, stating, “The format is new and exciting, with a challenging 15-second time limit. It’s beneficial for juniors, especially after their strong performance at the Asian Games.”
Casey Kaufhold from the Chero Archers, who recently won a bronze medal at the Paris Olympics, is looking forward to the faster pace of the APL. She praised the Indian archers' progress, saying, “The Indian team has significantly improved, and I’m thrilled to compete alongside them.”
The event also fostered camaraderie among the archers. Alejandra Valencia from Mexico, representing the Mighty Marathas, highlighted the friendships formed through the APL, stating, “We’ve become like a family, supporting each other beyond national boundaries.”
Ojas Pravin Deotale, last season’s hero, reminisced about a memorable moment with Tokyo Olympic champion Mete Gazoz, sharing how he used a special arrow during a crucial shoot-off.
Andrea Becerra from Prithviraaj Yodhas expressed excitement about compound archery being included in the LA 2028 Olympics, noting the increased opportunities for athletes like herself.
The opening day will feature a rematch of last year’s thrilling final between Rajputana Royals and Prithviraaj Yodhas, along with a showdown between Jyothi Surekha Vennam’s Kakatiya Knights and Dhiraj Bommadevara’s Mighty Marathas. Chikitha Taniparthi will also be competing for Chero Archers against the Chola Chiefs, which includes Deepika Kumari.
This six-team league will see 48 archers from India and abroad competing in both recurve and compound categories. Each team consists of eight mixed archers, and the competition follows a double round-robin format. The top four teams will advance to the semi-finals, culminating in the final on October 18.