The Archery Premier League (APL) 2025 entered its decisive phase on Thursday at the Yamuna Sports Complex, where the Mighty Marathas (MM) became the first team to book their place in the semifinals.
Meanwhile, in a major upset, the unbeaten Rajputana Royals (RR) suffered their first defeat of the season a commanding 6-0 loss at the hands of Prithviraj Yodhas (PY) marking a dramatic turn in the league standings as the race for the remaining semifinal spots tightened.
The day began with the Mighty Marathas overcoming Chola Chiefs (CC) 5-1 in a high-quality encounter. Both sides started strong, with Brady Ellison for the Chiefs and Parneet Kaur for the Marathas displaying consistent 10-hitting in the opening set. However, it was Dhiraj Bommadevara’s perfectly timed 10 just before the buzzer that levelled the set at 76-76, sharing a point apiece.
The second set saw the Marathas capitalizing on late errors from the Chiefs including an 8 from Deepika Kumari to edge ahead. Dhiraj once again stepped up under pressure, drilling a 10 on the final arrow to secure a 78-76 win and a 3-1 lead.
In the third and decisive set, nerves got the better of the Chiefs’ experienced pair, Ellison and Deepika, who faltered with a trio of 8s. The Marathas seized the opportunity, closing the set 75-74 to wrap up the match 5-1 and confirm their place in the semifinals with six wins from eight matches.
Chero Archers Stay Alive After Dramatic Shootoff Win
The battle between Chero Archers (CA) and Kakatiya Knights (KK) turned into a nail-biter that went down to a shoot-off, with the Archers eventually prevailing thanks to 17-year-old Prithika Pradeep’s composure under pressure.
The Knights, led by Nico Wiener and Jyothi Surekha Vennam, started well with four 10s in the opening set. But CA’s Atanu Das and Rohit Kumar ensured parity at 77-77. Both teams traded 8s in the second set, which ended 72-72 after late heroics from Jyothi and Canales.
In the third set, the Knights briefly held the edge with crucial 10s from Jyothi and Wiener, but re-measured arrows upgraded two 8s to 9s giving KK a narrow 76-75 lead and a 4-2 advantage.
The fourth set, however, brought high drama. With the Knights leading, Das’s perfect 10 on the final arrow forced the opposition into time trouble. Rohit failed to shoot before the buzzer, handing the Archers the set 77-67 and tying the match 4-4.
In the hit-or-miss shootoff, only Prithika hit the narrow yellow target, securing a thrilling victory for Chero Archers, who kept their semifinal hopes alive.
Prithviraj Yodhas Stun Unbeaten Royals
The biggest shock of the day came in the final match, where the Prithviraj Yodhas handed Rajputana Royals their first defeat of the season with a dominant 6-0 win.
Needing a victory to stay in semifinal contention, the Yodhas came out firing. Led by their captain Abhishek Verma, the team took the first set 76-74 with consistent 10s and calm execution. Verma remained in sublime touch in the second set, supported by Matias Grande and Andrea Becerra, as the Yodhas edged the Royals 78-77 to take a 4-0 lead.
Despite Ojas Deotale’s sharp shooting and Ella Gibson’s resilience, the Royals couldn’t find their rhythm. The Yodhas, buoyed by Verma’s precision and Becerra’s steady presence, held firm in the third set to seal it 76-75 and complete a comprehensive 6-0 victory.
At the end of the day’s play, Rajputana Royals (7 wins) and Mighty Marathas (6 wins) secured their places in the semifinals. The remaining two semifinal berths will be contested among Prithviraj Yodhas (8 points), Chola Chiefs (6 points), and Chero Archers (6 points), with all three teams still mathematically alive.
The Kakatiya Knights, with just one win from eight matches, are now eliminated from contention.
As the Archery Premier League heads into its final group-stage matches, the tension continues to build. With one semifinal spot guaranteed and three teams battling for the remaining two, every arrow at the Yamuna Sports Complex will count as the APL’s inaugural edition nears its climax.
