Mighty Marathas ended their two-match losing streak in commanding fashion on Saturday, 10 October, defeating Chola Chiefs 6-0 at People's Plaza, Hyderabad, to finally open their account in the second season of the Archery Premier League (APL). The clean-sheet victory — without dropping a single set — was a significant turnaround for a side that had lost both its previous outings in the tournament.

Schloesser Stars, Bommadevara Delivers Under Pressure

The win was built on an exceptional individual performance from Dutch compound ace Mike Schloesser, widely nicknamed 'Mr. Perfect', who shot 10s with all six of his arrows for Marathas — a flawless display that lived up to his reputation. Anchoring the recurve end, Dhiraj Bommadevara proved equally crucial, producing a clutch 'super 10' in the second set with the clock winding down to extend the Marathas' lead to 4-0 — a moment that effectively put the tie beyond reach.

How Each Set Unfolded

In the opening set, Chola Chiefs deployed their familiar tactic of sending compound archers to shoot back-to-back, but Chikitha Taniparthi's back-to-back 9s blunted their scoreboard pressure. Despite Marathas' recurve pair contributing a couple of 8s, their compound archers did enough to edge the first set 74-73.

The second set saw the same pattern from Taniparthi, prompting Chiefs to introduce Colombia's Alejandra Usquiano — who had impressed on Day 2 of the tournament — but the momentum had already shifted. In the third and decisive set, Deepika Kumari and Marcus D'Almeida erred outside the yellow zone, allowing Marathas to close out a low-scoring set 74-72 and seal the match comprehensively before a fourth set was even required.

About the Archery Premier League

The Archery Premier League is the world's first franchise-based archery league, initiated by the Archery Association of India. The second season features six teams and 48 archers — 36 Indians and 12 elite international stars — competing at People's Plaza in Hyderabad. The tournament concludes on 18 October with a grand finale comprising semifinals for the top four teams, followed by the title clash.

What Lies Ahead on Sunday

The Chola Chiefs, who have now suffered two defeats in three matches, face a must-win situation when they take on Prithviraaj Yodhas on Sunday. The Chero Archers — one of the early pacesetters this season — will look to extend their strong run against local franchise Kakatiya Knights. In the day's marquee tie, the rejuvenated Mighty Marathas will test themselves against defending champions Rajputana Royals.