NEW DELHI: Hyderabad is set to become the center of the archery world this October as the Archery Premier League (APL) arrives in the City of Pearls for its second season. From October 8 to 18, People's Plaza on Necklace Road will host eleven days of elite competition, bringing together six franchise teams and many of the world's finest archers for a sporting spectacle.
nitiated by the Archery Association of India (AAI), and backed by the Government of Telangana, Season 2 builds on the success of a landmark inaugural edition in New Delhi last year. The league will once again bring Olympic champions, world champions, world number ones, and some of the biggest names in archery to Indian shores, as Hyderabad prepares to host a world-class sporting spectacle. Leading Indian archers include former World No 1 and four-time Olympian Deepika Kumari, four-time Olympian Atanu Das, 2023 Compound World Champion gold medallist Ojas Deotale, top compound archers Jyoti Surekha, Abhishek Verma and Olympian Ankita Bhakat, alongside an elite field of international stars.
Launched in 2025 with the objective of strengthening India's Olympic medal prospects in archery, the APL was conceived as a platform that enables Indian archers to compete in a high-performance environment.
The league for the first time brings together recurve and compound archers both men and women shooting together in competitive conditions while introducing a unique 15- second shot clock, five seconds shorter than the 20-second limit used in Olympic and World Archery competitions-placing an added premium on speed, composure and decision-making under pressure.
"We are delighted to bring the Archery Premier League to Hyderabad for Season 2 and are grateful to the Government of Telangana for its support in making this possible. The city has a rich sporting culture, a deep appreciation for excellence, and the energy to host an event of this scale. The inaugural season demonstrated not only the immense potential of archery as a spectator sport but also the value of creating a platform where Indian archers can compete alongside the world's best. As we build on that foundation, our focus remains on strengthening India's archery ecosystem, providing world-class competitive opportunities for athletes, and inspiring the next generation of talent. We are confident that Hyderabad will provide the perfect stage for a memorable second season," Anil Kamineni, APL director, said.
The 11-day tournament will feature six franchises — Mighty Marathas, Rajputana Royals, Prithviraaj Yodhas, Kakatiya Knights, Chero Archers and Chola Chiefs — with a total of 48 Indian and international archers competing across recurve and compound disciplines. Each team will field a mixed squad of eight archers, with the competition following a double round-robin format. The top four teams at the end of the league stage will advance to the semi-finals, culminating in the final on October 18.