Jaipur. Defending champions Rajputana Royals began their campaign in the second season of the Archery Premier League (APL) with a thrilling 5-3 victory over Prithviraj Yodhas in the opening match, played in Hyderabad on Wednesday.
Led by compound archer Ojas Deotale, the Royals delivered an impressive performance under pressure to secure victory in a closely contested encounter that went down to the final arrows. World No. 1 Ella Gibson also played a crucial role in giving the Royals a strong start, while Tokyo Olympic recurve champion Mete Gazoz produced a decisive shot in the closing moments to seal the win.
Prithviraj Yodhas, led by Abhishek Verma, mounted a spirited comeback after falling behind early in the contest. The match remained finely balanced until the final arrows, when Mexico's Mathias Grande scored eight points on his decisive attempt, allowing the Royals to clinch the encounter.
The Archery Premier League, the world's first franchise-based archery league, was launched on the initiative of the Archery Association of India. The competition features six teams and 48 archers, including 36 Indian and 12 leading international athletes. Being held at People's Plaza in Hyderabad, the league will conclude with the grand finale on October 18. The top four teams will qualify for the semi-finals before the title clash.
Royals Take the First Set
Rajputana Royals started strongly, winning the opening set 73-69. Grande put the Yodhas under early pressure with a seven-point opening shot. Deotale, who impressed in the previous season, once again provided an aggressive start for the Royals, with Gibson complementing his performance. India's Ankita Bhagat also supported Gazoz with a strong showing.
Yodhas Fight Back in the Second Set
Abhishek Verma opened the second set with a perfect 10-point shot. Both teams maintained a high standard of shooting, with the score tied at 37-37 midway through the set.
Grande delivered an excellent 10-point shot on his final arrow just before time expired. The Royals needed a 10 from Gazoz to win the set, but he managed nine points. Following a score correction on one of the arrows, the Yodhas were awarded the set, levelling the match at 2-2.
Third Set Ends in a Tie
The Yodhas made a tactical substitution ahead of the third set, bringing Andrea Becerra in place of Raj Kaur. Both teams' compound archers produced impressive performances, with Deotale and Verma opening with 10-point shots, followed by 10s from Gibson and Becerra.
The contest remained extremely close through the final arrows. Despite time pressure, both Gazoz and Grande managed to release their arrows in time. Grande needed a 10 to level the set and delivered precisely that, resulting in a 77-77 tie.
Gazoz Seals the Royals' Victory
Rajputana Royals made a flying start to the fourth set, hitting three consecutive 10s to establish a 39-37 lead at the halfway stage and move closer to victory.
Sixteen-year-old Gatha Anand Rao Khadke produced an inconsistent performance but struck a 10 with her final arrow, keeping the Yodhas' hopes of a comeback and a shoot-off alive.
However, Gazoz responded with an outstanding X-ring shot on his final arrow, while Grande managed only eight points. The decisive exchange secured a 5-3 victory for the defending champions, Rajputana Royals, in the league's opening encounter.
Three Matches Scheduled for the Second Day
Three matches are scheduled for the second day of the league on Saturday. Kakatiya Knights will face Chola Chiefs in the opening encounter, followed by a clash between defending champions Rajputana Royals and Chero Archers. The day's final match will see Mighty Marathas take on Prithviraj Yodhas.