The Archery Premier League is set to make its debut. It will bring together some of the best archers from India together. With archery gaining popularity in Olympics, the sport is aiming to expand itself around the world.
Organised by the Archery Association of India (AAI) with an aim to boost its rise and expansion, the Archery Premier League will aid arousing fans’ interests at local level. The league will be staged in a franchise-based model.
When will Archery Premier League be held?
The inaugural edition will be held from October 2 to 12 this year.
“The dates have been decided keeping multiple factors in mind, including the schedule and workload of Archers and the weather conditions in the city. With this League, we aim to not only showcase top-tier talent from around the world but also highlight and celebrate India’s rich Archery heritage,” AAI president Arjun Munda said in a statement.
Where will Archery Premier League be held?
The league will make its debut at the Yamuna Sports Complex in New Delhi.
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AAI President, Arjun Munda, stated, “Hosting this landmark event in our nation’s capital showcases our dedication to raising the sport’s profile both nationally and internationally.” Munda highlighted efforts to balance archers’ schedules and accommodate weather conditions for the October dates, further aiming to showcase global talent and celebrate India’s rich archery heritage.
Who can participate at Archery Premier League?
A total of six franchises will compete in the very first edition of the league that will feature 36 Indians alongside 12 of the top international names in archery.
According to reports, the inaugural season is likely to follow a draft system instead of an auction, with each squad comprising eight members- four men and four women. Teams can include up to two foreign archers, with at least one of them required to be part of the playing four.
Also Read: List of all types of archery sports in the world
India has produced some of the world’s leading archers. Four-time Olympian Deepika Kumari remains the nation’s most decorated recurve archer.
Veterans Tarundeep Rai and Atanu Das will also be among the recurve participants, while the women’s recurve events will feature Paris 2024 Olympians Ankita Bhakat and Bhajan Kaur.
World record-holding pair of compound archers Rishabh Yadav and Jyothi Surekha Vennam have also confirmed their participation along with Abhishek Verma, Prathamesh Fuge, Priyansh and Parneet Kaur.
AAI Secretary General, Virendra Sachdeva, expressed pride in hosting the league, praising its dynamic and inclusive format. “The league will not only amplify the visibility of Recurve and Compound archery but also provide international athletes a glimpse of India’s hospitality.” A unique team format will see 36 Indian and 12 international archers competing across six franchises, with more details forthcoming.
