AAI categorizes players by global rank, trials; top recurve: Deepika, Bommadevara. Compound stars: Rishabh, Jyothi, Verma, plus Fuge, Priyansh, Parneet Kaur
New Delhi
India’s top archers, including Olympian Deepika Kumari, Paris Olympian Dhiraj Bommadevara, veteran Abhishek Verma, and world record-holding pair Rishabh Yadav and Jyothi Surekha Vennam, will headline the first Archery Premier League (APL). The 11-day tournament will be held in October at the Yamuna Sports Complex, New Delhi, featuring six franchises with both Indian and international stars.
The Archery Association of India (AAI) has categorized players based on global rankings and recent national trials. Deepika (World No. 3) and Bommadevara (World No. 14) are among the recurve leaders. Compound archers Rishabh (World No. 9), Jyothi (World No. 3), and Verma (World No. 10) also join. Other big names include Prathamesh Fuge, Priyansh, and Parneet Kaur.
Veterans Tarundeep Rai and Atanu Das will feature in men’s recurve, alongside Neeraj Chauhan, Rahul, Rohit Kumar, and others. The women’s recurve line-up includes Olympians Ankita Bhakat and Bhajan Kaur, supported by Gatha Khadake, Sharvari Shende, and Basanti Mahato.
The compound category boasts Aman Saini (Rank 1), Ojas Pravin Deotale, Sahil Jadhav, and Pulkit Kajla among men, while women competitors include Prithika Pradeep, Avneet Kaur, Swati Dudhwal, and Pranjal Salve.
AAI president Arjun Munda said the league would bring attention to archery and provide fans with top-level competition. Secretary general Virendra Sachdeva added that Indian archers’ global success made launching such a league possible.
