The much-anticipated Archery Premier League (APL) got off to a glittering start at the Yamuna Sports Complex in the capital on Thursday evening.
After a brief scare from rain clouds that threatened to disrupt the opening day, the weather relented, and fans were treated to a dazzling mix of entertainment and elite competition as arrows finally flew under floodlights.
The curtain-raiser to Season 1 combined glamour, star power, and thrilling contests. Global cinema superstar Ram Charan, the official brand ambassador of the league, set the stage alight with his presence. Adding to the glamour quotient was actor Randeep Hooda, who turned up in support of his team, the Prithviraaj Yodhas, which he co-owns. Together, they marked a significant moment for Indian archery, with the sport taking its first bold step into the franchise-based league era.
After the formal introductions, where Ram Charan met players from all six competing squads, the focus shifted swiftly to the playing arena, and fans witnessed three pulsating matches that kicked off the round-robin stage of the inaugural APL season.
A Unique Format for a New Era
The APL has introduced an innovative competition format designed to balance fairness and excitement. Each playing team fields four archers two recurve and two compound with equal gender representation (two men and two women). Every player must shoot two arrows per set within a 120-second time cap.
Victory requires a team to be the first to score five or more points in a best-of-three set format. This format, blending speed, precision, and teamwork, has been crafted to appeal not only to traditional followers of archery but also to newer audiences discovering the sport through this league.
Match 1: Chola Chiefs Begin with a Statement
The opening match of the APL pitted Chola Chiefs against Chero Archers, and the Chiefs ensured their name entered the history books as the first winners of the league.
The Chiefs started strongly, taking the first set 77-73, setting a tone of composure under pressure. The Archers tried to mount a comeback but narrowly lost the second set 75-74, which gave the Chiefs a commanding 4-0 lead. With the Chiefs needing only one more point to seal the match, the Archers pushed back in the third set. Both teams traded blows in a dramatic exchange that ended 76-76, splitting the points. The final tally stood 5-1 in favour of the Chola Chiefs, who walked away with a clinical and confident victory.
Match 2: Mighty Marathas Outclass Kakatiya Knights
If the opening match showcased tight margins, the second fixture displayed dominance of the highest order. Mighty Marathas unleashed a near-perfect performance to trounce the Kakatiya Knights 6-0.
The Marathas controlled the contest from the outset, winning the first set 73-66 with a display of sharp shooting. They followed it up with a higher-scoring second set 77-72, before finishing the job emphatically in the third 78-71. The clean sweep highlighted both their precision and depth in the squad.
For the Knights, the defeat was sobering. Despite flashes of individual brilliance, their collective effort could not match the Marathas’ clinical execution. The result sent a clear message to the rest of the league: the Marathas are early title contenders.
Match 3: Royals Reign Supreme over the Yodhas
The day’s concluding contest saw Rajputana Royals square off against the Prithviraaj Yodhas, co-owned by Randeep Hooda. With the spotlight on the Yodhas, expectations were high, but the Royals silenced their rivals with a commanding 6-0 sweep.
The Royals claimed the first set 75-72, surviving late pressure from the Yodhas, and edged the second 74-72 in another nail-biting finish. By the time the third set rolled around, the Royals had found their rhythm, finishing with a 77-74 win to complete another straight-set victory.
The result was particularly disappointing for the Yodhas, whose preparation and ownership buzz did not translate into results on the opening night. For the Royals, however, the win underscored their intent to be major contenders.
Beyond the results, the opening day of the Archery Premier League showcased the league’s ambition. With professional production values, star-studded ceremonies, and a focus on making archery more viewer-friendly, the APL aims to do for archery what other franchise leagues have done for cricket, kabaddi, and badminton in India.
The presence of celebrities like Ram Charan and Randeep Hooda elevated the spectacle, while the franchise model with six teams representing different historic and cultural regions of India has already begun to attract fans eager to align with their chosen sides.
For the players, many of whom are established internationals, the APL offers a chance to experience the pressures of team franchise competition while showcasing their skills to a wider audience. For younger archers, it promises exposure, financial incentives, and the chance to share the spotlight with stars of the sport.
With the first night concluded, all six teams have announced themselves, and the competition is already heating up. The early results have set the tone: the Mighty Marathas and Rajputana Royals look formidable, while the Chola Chiefs have shown they can hold their nerve in tight contests. The Chero Archers, Kakatiya Knights, and Prithviraaj Yodhas will need to regroup quickly to stay in contention as the round-robin progresses.
As the APL continues through October, fans can expect tighter finishes, dramatic shoot-offs, and the possibility of rivalries taking shape. With the league blending history, culture, and modern sporting spectacle, the inaugural season is already off to a memorable start.
The Archery Premier League is more than just another tournament it represents the evolution of Indian archery into a professional, entertainment-driven sport. The opening night offered both glamour and grit, with celebrities adding shine and athletes delivering substance.
For Mirzapur, Thanjavur, Pune, and Jaipur, whose names inspired the teams that triumphed on day one, it was a night to remember. For the sport itself, it marked the beginning of a bold new chapter.
As the season unfolds, the APL has the potential to transform archery’s visibility in India and provide its athletes with the recognition they richly deserve.
