The inaugural Archery Premier League (APL), held in New Delhi from October 2–12, 2025, marked a defining moment for Indian archery.
For the first time, the sport stepped into a professional, franchise-based format under lights complete with team owners, a celebrity ambassador, international stars, and national broadcast partners. But beyond the immediate spectacle, the real question is whether APL can convert its strong debut into a sustainable long-term enterprise.
Structured under the Archery Association of India (AAI) with backing from World Archery, the APL introduced a six-team franchise model that borrowed the regional identity concept from India’s successful domestic leagues. The six teams were:
•Prithviraaj Yodhas (Delhi)
•Rajputana Royals (Rajasthan)
•Mighty Marathas (Maharashtra)
•Kakatiya Knights (Telangana)
•Chero Archers (Jharkhand)
•Chola Chiefs (Tamil Nadu)
Each franchise fielded eight archers (four men and four women) a total of 36 Indian and 12 international players. Crucially, the APL opted for a draft system over an auction to ensure balanced squads and prevent talent concentration. This structure ensured that international stars such as Brady Ellison, Mete Gazoz, Alejandra Valencia, Mike Schloesser, and Ella Gibson were evenly distributed across teams alongside India’s elite names Atanu Das, Deepika Kumari, Ojas Deotale, Jyothi Surekha Vennam, Tarundeep Rai, Dhiraj Bommadevara, Parneet Kaur, and Abhishek Verma.
Adding to the glitz, actor Ram Charan was unveiled as the brand ambassador, while franchises like the Prithviraaj Yodhas had backing from corporate heavyweight Ebix Group, co-owned by Randeep Hooda and Lin Laishram.
The APL aimed squarely at modern audiences by reshaping archery into an evening-ready, fast-paced format. Matches featured mixed-team contests in both recurve (70m) and compound (50m) disciplines, with each archer limited to 15 seconds per shot a dramatic shift that emphasized mental precision and intensity.
Each contest followed a set system, with teams earning points per set rather than cumulative scores, encouraging frequent momentum swings and viewer engagement. The format proved ideal for television and live streaming, packing multiple matches into short evening windows. The league secured Doordarshan as its free-to-air broadcast partner and SonyLIV for digital streaming a move designed to balance national reach with measurable online metrics. Across ten days, fans witnessed a mix of dominant performances and tight shoot-offs.
The Rajputana Royals and Mighty Marathas set the early pace, while the Prithviraaj Yodhas recovered mid-season with crucial wins that pushed them into the knockouts. The near-identical averages underline the tight competitive balance the draft system was designed to create.
Semi-Finals and the Dramatic Finale
The top four advanced to the semi-finals: Rajputana Royals, Mighty Marathas, Prithviraaj Yodhas, and Chero Archers. The Royals swept aside the Archers 5–1, with Ojas Deotale, Ella Gibson, and Mete Gazoz in imperious form. The other semi-final was a thriller the Yodhas edged the Marathas 5–3, aided by a remeasure ruling that flipped the final set in their favor.
The final, under the lights at the Yamuna Sports Complex, produced exactly the kind of edge-of-seat drama the league had promised. Both sides traded sets to reach 4–4, forcing a shoot-off. Royals’ compound pair Ojas Deotale and Ella Gibson hit the yellow dot, while none of the Yodhas’ four shooters found a 10. The Royals took the title 2–0 in the tiebreak. Despite the loss, the Yodhas made history earlier in the match, recording a perfect 80 (all 10s) in one set a league first.
The Bull’s-Eye: What Worked
The APL’s debut was not just an operational success it demonstrated that archery can indeed be commercialized and made viewer-friendly without compromising its essence.
Institutional backing: The AAI’s organization and World Archery’s endorsement provided instant credibility, ensuring international participation and global visibility.
Competitive balance: The draft format prevented domination by one franchise, and the 15-second shot clock forced high-intensity performances.
Dual broadcast model: Pairing Doordarshan’s national reach with SonyLIV’s digital analytics struck a pragmatic balance between exposure and data-driven monetization.
Branding & visibility: Celebrity involvement, from Ram Charan to Randeep Hooda gave the league its initial media traction, essential for niche sports in early phases.
The Long Game: Challenges Ahead
While the APL’s debut hit the bull’s-eye in execution, sustainability remains the defining test. The league’s monetization gap the missing link between novelty-driven attention and recurring commercial investment must be bridged.
Sponsorship Conversion: The APL attracted initial sponsors like Ebix, but archery’s commercial pool remains small. Long-term survival depends on delivering verified digital viewership and detailed fan metrics to justify renewed investment.
Calendar Clashes: Elite international archers juggle the World Cups, World Championships, and Olympic qualifiers. Without a fixed, protected window in the global calendar, APL risks losing its star power in future editions.
Fan Engagement: Archery’s subtlety requires creative storytelling and fan education. Stadium experiences including live scoring visuals, strategic commentary, and engaging interludes will be critical in attracting repeat spectators.
Franchise ROI: Owners will seek tangible returns. The APL must position franchise ownership as a long-term brand and community investment, encouraging integration with regional academies to build local identity and talent pathways.
Growth Opportunities
If APL sustains its momentum, it could become a template for professional archery worldwide.
Talent Development: APL offers young Indian archers paid, high-pressure match experience that accelerates growth beyond traditional camps and trials.
New Sponsor Categories: Precision sports offer natural branding fits for technology, optics, and equipment companies seeking targeted partnerships.
Regional Expansion: Moving beyond Delhi to cities like Jaipur, Hyderabad, and Chennai could increase fan ownership and broaden commercial reach.
International Tie-ups: Partnerships with other federations could bring exchange programs and additional global stars to future seasons.
The Rajputana Royals’ shoot-off triumph over the Prithviraaj Yodhas was more than just the end of a season it symbolized a beginning for Indian archery’s professional future. The APL 1.0 delivered what it promised: elite competition, fast-paced drama, and nationwide visibility.
The next phase APL 2.0 and beyond will determine whether this is a one-off success or a lasting ecosystem. Two strategic imperatives stand out:
1.Verify and publish digital viewership data to attract long-term sponsors.
2.Secure a permanent, conflict-free calendar window with World Archery to ensure elite participation.
The Archery Premier League has hit its first target proving that the sport can be repackaged for modern audiences. The next challenge is staying on target, year after year, transforming a breakthrough moment into a sustainable sporting institution.
