The penultimate day of the round-robin stage at the inaugural Archery Premier League (APL) delivered an evening of high drama, remarkable comebacks, and a historic shoot off at the Yamuna Sports Complex.
The Prithviraj Yodhas became the third team to secure a semifinal berth, joining the Rajputana Royals and the Mighty Marathas, while the Kakatiya Knights kept their faint playoff hopes alive with a spirited win. The Kakatiya Knights kicked off the evening with a crucial 5–1 win over the Chola Chiefs, ensuring they remained mathematically in contention for a top-four finish. Despite needing other results to go their way, the Knights’ dominant performance against the Chiefs showed their fighting intent.
Led by Nico Wiener and Avneet Kaur, the Knights controlled the match with consistent shooting under pressure, winning the first two sets 76–72 and 79–76, before sharing the final set 76–76. Their precise shooting and steady rhythm neutralised the Chiefs’ challenge, particularly as top archers Brady Ellison and Deepika Kumari struggled to find their range on the night. The victory lifted the Knights to four points, giving them a slim but significant lifeline ahead of their final league match on Saturday. The defeat left the Chiefs on six points, the same as the Chero Archers, setting up a tense final day of the league phase.
Prithviraj Yodhas Seal Semifinal Berth
In the second match of the day, Prithviraj Yodhas confirmed their place in the semifinals with a hard-fought 5–3 win over the Chero Archers. The Yodhas’ consistency and composure under pressure proved decisive as they edged a closely contested tie 78–78, 78–73, 74–75, 77–76.
With this result, the Yodhas moved to 10 points from nine matches, ensuring a safe passage into the final four regardless of the remaining fixtures. The defeat was a setback for the Archers, who now face an uphill task to qualify, sitting level with the Chiefs on points but behind on set difference.
Royals Triumph in a Thriller Against Marathas
The final match of the evening between table-toppers Mighty Marathas and Rajputana Royals was easily the most dramatic encounter of the APL so far, ending with a historic shootoff that kept the crowd at the Yamuna Sports Complex on its feet. The Marathas, who came into the match on a stellar run, looked poised for another victory after taking a 4–0 lead early on. However, a bold tactical change by the Royals bringing in Ojas Deotale in the third set completely shifted the momentum.
Deotale’s inclusion injected confidence into the Royals’ lineup, which already featured a formidable trio in Mete Gazoz, Ankita Bhakat, and Ella Gibson. The turnaround began in Set 3, where the Royals found their rhythm, dropping just one point to take the set 79–77 and cut the deficit to 2–4. Riding that momentum, the Royals produced near-flawless shooting in the next set. With Gazoz and Gibson leading the way, they clinched the fourth set 76–72, levelling the match at 4–4 and forcing a shootoff the first of the tournament to feature multiple perfect shots.
The tiebreaker proved historic for the APL, as more than one archer found the yellow mark an exceptional feat under pressure. For the Royals, compound specialists Ojas Deotale and Ella Gibson both hit the yellow, securing a 2–1 win in the shootoff. The Marathas’ Mike Schloesser managed one hit, but it wasn’t enough to deny the Royals their memorable comeback victory. The result did little to affect the top-two standings but served as a statement from the Royals, who showcased their depth, tactical adaptability, and mental strength all key attributes heading into the semifinals.
With just one day remaining in the league stage, three semifinal spots are now confirmed Rajputana Royals, Mighty Marathas, and Prithviraj Yodhas. The fourth and final spot remains open, with the Kakatiya Knights, Chero Archers, and Chola Chiefs still mathematically in contention.
As the Archery Premier League nears its knockout phase, the intensity continues to rise, with every arrow carrying the weight of qualification and history.
