APL Season 2 Day 6: Mighty Marathas go top with fourth straight win in Hyderabad
Synopsis
Mighty Marathas are on a roll — four wins from four matches have taken them to the top of APL Season 2, separated from Kakatiya Knights only on set-points. With defending champions Rajputana Royals back in form and the final set for 18 October, the semifinal race is heating up fast.
Key Takeaways
Mighty Marathas secured their fourth consecutive win on 13 October , beating Prithviraaj Yodhas 6-2 to top the APL Season 2 table.
Kakatiya Knights swept Chola Chiefs 6-0 , joining Marathas on eight points — the two sides separated only by set-points difference.
Rajputana Royals crushed Chero Archers 6-0 for back-to-back wins after three successive defeats, moving to six points .
Mike Schloesser scored 78 out of 80 for Marathas; compound world No.
1 Ella Gibson hit a perfect 60 out of 60 for Royals.
The APL Season 2 finale is scheduled for 18 October at People's Plaza, Hyderabad , featuring the top four teams.
The Archery Premier League (APL) Season 2 sixth matchday in Hyderabad on Tuesday, 13 October 2026 delivered a commanding performance from Mighty Marathas, who secured their fourth consecutive victory to climb to the top of the standings. Kakatiya Knights joined them on eight points after a clinical clean-sweep, while Rajputana Royals made it back-to-back wins to stay firmly in semifinals contention.
Marathas Stay Unbeaten, Set Gap on Points
Mighty Marathas edged past Prithviraaj Yodhas 6-2 in what was a high-quality encounter. The standout performer was recurve star Dhiraj Bommadevara, who closed out the first and second sets with clutch 10s with barely any time remaining on the clock. At the top of the order, Dutch compound ace Mike Schloesser — nicknamed 'Mr. Perfect' — delivered a near-flawless 78 out of 80 points to set the platform. Madhura Dhamgaonkar and Simranjeet Kaur chipped in with solid scores to round out the team effort. Marathas head the table ahead of Knights purely on set-points difference, with both sides locked on eight points.
Knights Crush Chiefs, Deepen Their Woes
In the final match of the evening, Kakatiya Knights consigned Chola Chiefs to the bottom of the table with a 6-0 sweep. Nico Wiener and Neeraj Chauhan were both outstanding at either end of the sets, each registering 59 out of 60. Spain's recurve archer Elia Canales provided dependable support throughout. With Jyothi Surekha Vennam absent, Avneet Kaur stepped up admirably in the home franchise's lineup. Chiefs — who brought back recurve stars Deepika Kumari and Marcus D'Almeida — continued to struggle, though both teams produced one impeccable set that finished 79-78 in the Knights' favour.
Royals Roar Back With Dominant Win Over Chero
Defending champions Rajputana Royals had endured three successive defeats before turning the tide on Monday, and they carried that momentum into Tuesday. Against Chero Archers, the Royals were dominant, winning 6-0 without dropping a set. The star of the match was compound world No. 1 Ella Gibson, who did not miss the 10-ring once, finishing a perfect 60 out of 60. Sangeeta, playing her first match in place of Ankita Bhakat, delivered a sensational 10 at a critical juncture in the third set. Tokyo Olympic champion Mete Gazoz sealed the deal with a composed 9 and produced his signature celebration. 'We didn't start well over the first four days. I guess everybody misses us because I think the APL needs more energy and more dancing and now we're giving that,' Gazoz said after the win.
Chero suffered partly from an early costly 7 from American archer Casey Kaufhold in the first set, and were made to pay for compound archer errors in the second. The third set was level at 58-58 before Atanu Das — otherwise in strong form this season — hit a rare 8, opening the door for Royals to close it out.
About APL Season 2
The Archery Premier League is the world's first franchise-based archery competition, launched by the Archery Association of India. The league features six teams and 48 archers — 36 Indians and 12 elite international archers. All matches are being played at People's Plaza in Hyderabad. The tournament concludes on 18 October with the grand finale, featuring the top four teams in the semifinals followed by the title clash.
What's Coming on Wednesday
Day 7 promises high-voltage action with three fixtures. Chero Archers take on Prithviraaj Yodhas first — a rematch of a previous encounter that required multiple Sudden Death rounds before Yodhas came through. The second clash pits Kakatiya Knights against Rajputana Royals in what is shaping up as a marquee encounter between top-four contenders. The evening's final match sees leaders Mighty Marathas face Chola Chiefs, with Marathas looking to extend their winning run and Chiefs desperate for a turnaround.
Point of View
It signals depth across both recurve and compound slots, which most APL squads lack. The bigger story, however, is Rajputana Royals: a defending champion that went three-and-out before rediscovering form could be the most dangerous semifinalist if Ella Gibson and Mete Gazoz sustain this level. Chola Chiefs, meanwhile, face an existential threat to their top-four hopes — bringing back Deepika Kumari and D'Almeida made no difference today, which raises questions about the franchise's strategic flexibility. APL's format, where one set can swing momentum entirely, means the standings are far from settled heading into the final three matchdays.
NationPress
13 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who topped the APL Season 2 standings after Day 6?
Mighty Marathas topped the APL Season 2 standings after Day 6, level on eight points with Kakatiya Knights but ahead on set-points difference. Marathas have now won four matches in a row.
What was the result of the Rajputana Royals vs Chero Archers match?
Rajputana Royals beat Chero Archers 6-0 on Day 6 in Hyderabad, with compound world No. 1 Ella Gibson scoring a perfect 60 out of 60. The win gave Royals back-to-back victories after three consecutive losses.
Who are the top performers in APL Season 2 so far?
Mike Schloesser scored 78 out of 80 for Mighty Marathas, while Ella Gibson hit a flawless 60 out of 60 for Rajputana Royals on Day 6. Dhiraj Bommadevara and Nico Wiener have also been consistently strong for their respective sides.
When and where is the APL Season 2 final?
The APL Season 2 grand finale is scheduled for 18 October at People's Plaza in Hyderabad. The top four teams will compete in the semifinals, followed by the title match.
What is the Archery Premier League (APL)?
The Archery Premier League is the world's first franchise-based archery league, organised by the Archery Association of India. It features six teams and 48 archers — 36 Indians and 12 elite international archers — competing in a format where sets of six arrows determine match outcomes.
