The Archery Premier League (APL) Season 2 witnessed a dramatic reversal of fortunes on Day 8 at People's Plaza, Hyderabad, on Thursday, 15 October 2026, as bottom-placed Chola Chiefs snapped a five-match winless run while table leaders Mighty Marathas and Kakatiya Knights both stumbled, throwing the playoff race wide open.

Chola Chiefs Edge Yodhas in Thrilling Shoot-Off

The day's standout contest was the opener, where Chola Chiefs and Prithviraaj Yodhas finished level at 4-4 in regulation — with set scores reading 76-72, 78-77, 73-75, 74-77 — before the match was decided by the Hit-or-Miss Shoot-off. In the tiebreaker, Colombia's Alejandra Usquiano and India's Yuktha Sri Kondapavuluri each struck the golden X-ring, registering as hits, while the remaining archers from both sides scored misses. The Chiefs won the shoot-off 2-0.

Usquiano was exceptional throughout, completing a flawless 80 out of 80 in regulation time — arguably the best individual performance of the season so far. Her decisive X in the shoot-off set the tone for the Chiefs' victory. The win lifts Chola Chiefs to four points, keeping their top-four qualification hopes mathematically alive, while Prithviraaj Yodhas remain on eight points.

Notably, the Chiefs had come close to sealing the match in regulation: they won the first two sets and had a straightforward opportunity in the third before recurve archers Yuktha Sri and Marcus D'Almeida landed arrows in the 7-ring. Gatha Khadake's superb X helped the Yodhas claw back the final set and force the tiebreaker, but the Chiefs held their nerve when it mattered most.

Royals Punish Marathas' Time-Pressure Errors

Rajputana Royals defeated Mighty Marathas 6-2 in Match 2, with the Marathas enduring a nightmarish start. Alejandra Valencia and Mrinal Chauhan were caught by the clock and could not release their 8th arrow in either the first or the second set, handing the Royals a commanding early lead. Although the Marathas recovered to take the third set, the deficit was too steep to overcome. Tokyo Olympic champion Mete Gazoz delivered a composed closing statement, landing a 10 with barely any time remaining on the clock to seal the win for the Royals. The match scores read 77-65, 75-66, 73-76, 77-74.

The defeat is a significant setback for the Marathas, who started the day on 10 points and within touching distance of a playoff berth.

Chero Archers Clean-Sweep Kakatiya Knights

Chero Archers produced the day's most emphatic result, whitewashing Kakatiya Knights 6-0 with set scores of 76-73, 77-76, 75-74. The Knights were hampered by the absence of their in-form archer Neeraj Chauhan, with Rohit Kumar starting his recurve duties with a 6 before steadying. However, Chero were relentless throughout, driven by a commanding display from Atanu Das and compound world No. 1 Mathias Fullerton.

Like the Marathas, the Knights began the day on 10 points but leave it without adding to their tally — a result that could prove decisive in the final standings.

Best Archers of the Day

The league awarded a ₹1 lakh reward to the best performer in each discipline. Atanu Das (Chero Archers) claimed the recurve male honour, while Sangeeta (Rajputana Royals) won the recurve female award. Ojas Deotale (Rajputana Royals) took the compound male prize and Alejandra Usquiano (Chola Chiefs) earned compound female honours.

What Happens Next

On Friday, Rajputana Royals face Chola Chiefs in the opening match, followed by Prithviraaj Yodhas versus Kakatiya Knights, and Mighty Marathas against Chero Archers. The round-robin phase is nearing its close, with the APL Season 2 grand finale scheduled for 18 October. India's Asian Games archery medallists — all part of the six APL teams — were in New Delhi on Thursday to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The new playoffs format gives the top two sides two bites at reaching the final, while third and fourth will contest Eliminator 1 on 17 October.