APL Season 2: Mighty Marathas, Kakatiya Knights lock in top-two spots
Synopsis
The APL Season 2 playoff picture is set at the top — Mighty Marathas and Kakatiya Knights are both through with 12 points — but the race for spots three and four is a three-way tie at 8 points going into the final Saturday. A Knights set that matched arrows identically with the Yodhas, and a near-perfect night from Alejandra Usquiano for the eliminated Chiefs, made Day 9 one of the most compelling of the season.
Key Takeaways
Mighty Marathas and Kakatiya Knights both reach 12 points , confirming top-two finishes in APL Season 2 .
Knights defeated Prithviraaj Yodhas 6-2 in the match of the day; Marathas swept Chero Archers 6-0 .
Rajputana Royals , Chero Archers , and Prithviraaj Yodhas are all level on 8 points , battling for the third and fourth playoff spots.
Already-eliminated Chola Chiefs beat Royals 5-3 , complicating the defending champions' title defence.
The grand finale is scheduled for 18 October at People's Plaza, Hyderabad .
Day 9 best archers: Neeraj Chauhan (Knights), Alejandra Valencia (Marathas), Mathias Fullerton (Chero), Alejandra Usquiano (Chiefs) — each earning ₹1 lakh .
Mighty Marathas and Kakatiya Knights sealed their places in the top two of the Archery Premier League (APL) Season 2 league phase on Friday, 17 October, bouncing back emphatically after a stumble on Thursday. The Marathas swept Chero Archers 6-0, while the Knights edged Prithviraaj Yodhas 6-2 in what many observers called the finest contest of the season so far. Both sides now sit on 12 points — a tally the remaining four teams can no longer match.
Knights Edge Yodhas in a Classic
The standout fixture of the day was local franchise Kakatiya Knights' victory over last season's finalists Prithviraaj Yodhas. The return of in-form Neeraj Chauhan gave the Knights an immediate lift, and they took the opening set 77-74.
The second set produced a remarkable sequence: both sides shot X, X, 9, 10, 9, 10, 9, and 9 in the exact same order, splitting the points. The third set ended tied as well, with Matias Grande and Neeraj Chauhan each stepping up with the scores locked at 67-67 — Grande shot an X, and Neeraj answered with an X of his own, preserving the Knights' two-point cushion in a decisive moment.
In the fourth set, the Knights came within a whisker of a perfect 80, but Neeraj's final arrow just missed the inner ring for a 79. That was more than enough to seal the win and confirm their playoff berth. Final scores: 77-74, 76-76, 77-77, 79-75.
Marathas Cruise Past Chero 6-0
In the final match of the evening, Dhiraj Bommadevara returned to the Marathas' lineup alongside recurver Alejandra Valencia and compounder Aman Saini, both of whom were in fine touch. The trio dismantled Chero Archers across three sets — 75-74, 77-75, 76-71 — for a clean sweep.
Compound world No. 1 Mathias Fullerton was again exceptional for Chero, posting a perfect 60, but the rest of his side lacked the consistency needed to mount a challenge.
Chola Chiefs Spoil Royals' Playoff Push
Earlier on Friday, already-eliminated Chola Chiefs continued to play the role of spoilers, defeating Rajputana Royals 5-3 (77-69, 73-78, 76-74, 76-76) and dealing a significant blow to the defending champions' title defence. The Chiefs relied on anchor duo Alejandra Usquiano — who scored a perfect 80 on Thursday — and veteran Rajat Chauhan. On Friday, Usquiano was nearly flawless again, scoring 79 out of 80 with six 10s and five X-ring arrows before her first 9.
The loss leaves Royals on 8 points with just one match remaining, levelling them with Chero Archers and Prithviraaj Yodhas in a congested three-way battle for the third and fourth playoff spots. Tiebreakers will likely prove decisive.
What Saturday's Schedule Looks Like
Saturday's action at People's Plaza, Hyderabad features four matches. The day opens with a preview clash between Mighty Marathas and Kakatiya Knights — effectively a rehearsal for Sunday's grand finale. Chola Chiefs face Chero Archers in a dead-rubber clash. The critical match is the rematch of last season's title bout: Rajputana Royals versus Prithviraaj Yodhas, which will determine the final playoff order. Eliminator 1 follows immediately after.
The APL, initiated by the Archery Association of India and recognised as the world's first franchise-based archery league, comprises six teams and 48 archers — 36 Indians and 12 elite international stars. The season culminates with the grand finale on 18 October.
Best Archers of Day 9
Recurve male: Neeraj Chauhan (Kakatiya Knights) | Recurve female: Alejandra Valencia (Mighty Marathas) | Compound male: Mathias Fullerton (Chero Archers) | Compound female: Alejandra Usquiano (Chola Chiefs). Each award carries a ₹1 lakh reward.
Point of View
Not results, may decide who faces elimination — reflects genuine competitive balance, not an engineered finish. Neeraj Chauhan's performance across the Knights' crucial sets, including the X-for-X pressure moment against Grande, signals that the tournament has surfaced real individual narratives worth following into the grand finale. Whether Rajputana Royals can defend their title now hinges on Saturday's rematch against the Yodhas — a story the league could not have scripted better.
NationPress
17 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who has qualified for the APL Season 2 playoffs so far?
Mighty Marathas and Kakatiya Knights have confirmed their places in the top two of the APL Season 2 league phase, both on 12 points after their wins on 17 October. The third and fourth playoff spots are yet to be decided.
What is the APL Season 2 points table situation after Day 9?
Mighty Marathas and Kakatiya Knights lead with 12 points each. Rajputana Royals, Chero Archers, and Prithviraaj Yodhas are all level on 8 points, with tiebreakers likely to determine the final playoff order. Chola Chiefs have 6 points but are eliminated.
What was the standout moment of APL Day 9?
The match between Kakatiya Knights and Prithviraaj Yodhas produced an extraordinary second set where both sides shot X, X, 9, 10, 9, 10, 9, and 9 in the exact same order. Later, both Matias Grande and Neeraj Chauhan shot X arrows when scores were tied at 67-67, preserving the Knights' lead in a critical pressure moment.
When and where is the APL Season 2 grand finale?
The APL Season 2 grand finale is scheduled for 18 October at People's Plaza in Hyderabad. The league, initiated by the Archery Association of India, is recognised as the world's first franchise-based archery league.
What is the APL Season 2 playoffs format?
The top two teams — Mighty Marathas and Kakatiya Knights — each get two shots at qualifying for the grand final on Sunday. The third and fourth-placed teams will face each other in Eliminator 1 on Saturday, with the loser being knocked out and the winner advancing.
