Hyderabad To Host Archery Premier League Season 2 From October 8-18

Hyderabad will host the second season of the Archery Premier League (APL) from October 8 to 18 , with the league retaining its original six-franchise format and not expanding for the new edition, organisers announced on Wednesday.

The 11-day tournament will be held at People’s Plaza on Necklace Road and will feature the same six teams from the inaugural season — defending champions Rajputana Royals (Rajasthan) , Mighty Marathas (Maharashtra) , Prithviraaj Yodhas (Delhi) , Kakatiya Knights (Telangana) , Chero Archers (Jharkhand) and Chola Chiefs (Tamil Nadu) .

A total of 48 Indian and international archers will compete across both recurve and compound disciplines , with men and women participating in the mixed-format league.

Unlike the inaugural edition, which coincided with Dussehra festivities, the second season will conclude before the festival period . Detailed announcements on team squads, player auctions or signings, fixtures and broadcast partners will be made at a later stage.

APL director Anil Kamineni said Hyderabad’s sporting ecosystem and support from the Telangana government made it an ideal host city. He added that the inaugural season had demonstrated the potential of archery as a spectator sport and the value of creating a global competitive platform for Indian archers.

Launched by the Archery Association of India in 2025 to strengthen India’s Olympic medal prospects, the league brings together elite archers from around the world in a franchise-based format.

The competition will also continue with its unique 15-second shot clock , five seconds shorter than international standards, increasing pressure on speed and decision-making.

Each franchise will field a squad of eight archers. The league will follow a double round-robin format , with the top four teams qualifying for the semifinals . The final is scheduled for October 18 .