Archery Premier League Season 2: Casey Kaufhold, 11 global stars to compete in Hyderabad from Oct 8
Synopsis
APL Season 2 is shaping up as the most globally competitive edition yet — three Olympic medallists, five current world No. 1s or No. 2s, and a 20-year-old Paris bronze medallist making her India debut, all converging on Hyderabad for 11 days in October. For Indian archery, the exposure value alone could be transformative.
Key Takeaways
Archery Premier League Season 2 is scheduled from 8 October in Hyderabad for 11 days .
12 overseas archers from 10 countries , including three Olympic medallists , will compete.
Casey Kaufhold (Paris 2024 bronze, USA) makes her APL debut ; Mete Gazoz (Tokyo gold) and Alejandra Valencia (two-time Olympic bronze) return.
Marcus D'Almeida (Brazil, world No.
1 ) and Alejandra Usquiano (Colombia, world No.
3 ) are among the new international entrants.
The league features 48 athletes across six franchises with a signature 15-second shot clock format.
APL is an initiative of the Archery Association of India , supported by the Government of Telangana .
Paris 2024 Olympic bronze medallist Casey Kaufhold of the USA will make her Archery Premier League (APL) debut when the tournament's second edition kicks off in Hyderabad on 8 October, organisers announced on 22 August. A total of 12 overseas archers from 10 countries will feature alongside Indian competitors across six region-based franchises in the 11-day event.
Star-Studded International Line-Up
The overseas contingent reads like a who's who of global archery. Mete Gazoz of Turkey, gold medallist at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, and Alejandra Valencia of Mexico, a two-time bronze medallist at the Tokyo and Paris Olympics, both return after competing in APL's inaugural season. They will be joined by debutants including Alejandra Usquiano of Colombia (world No. 3 in compound) and Marcus D'Almeida of Brazil, currently world No. 1 and a bronze medallist at the 2014 Youth Olympic Games.
Reigning World Games individual champions Mike Schloesser (world No. 2) and Andrea Becerra (world No. 1) return from Season 1. Mathias Fullerton, the 2025 World Championship silver medallist and current world No. 1, also returns, alongside Mexico's Matias Grande (world No. 3, age 22) and Spain's Elia Canales. Great Britain's Ella Gibson (world No. 2), who was part of the Season 1 championship-winning franchise Rajputana Royals, returns with Austria's Nico Wiener (world No. 5 in compound).
Kaufhold on the APL Challenge
Kaufhold, who claimed an Olympic medal at just 20 years of age, expressed enthusiasm about the format. 'I am looking forward to competing in the Archery Premier League. The 15-second shot clock will be a new challenge, but I enjoy formats that demand focus, composure and trust in every shot. I am also excited to compete alongside some of the world's best archers, and connect with the passionate archery fans in India,' she said.
What APL Director Said
Anil Kamineni, Director of APL, said the international roster underscores the league's global ambitions. 'Bringing 12 leading international archers, including three Olympic medallists, to APL Season 2 reflects our ambition to make India an important destination on the global archery calendar. Casey Kaufhold's debut, alongside the return of champions such as Mete Gazoz and Alejandra Valencia, will uplift the level of competition and give Indian archers invaluable exposure to the world's best,' he said.
Format and Structure
APL is an initiative of the Archery Association of India, held with support from the Government of Telangana. The league features 48 athletes across six franchise teams, bringing together both Recurve and Compound archers, with men and women competing together. The signature 15-second shot clock adds a layer of speed and pressure that distinguishes the format from conventional archery competition. The league aims to strengthen India's archery ecosystem and raise the sport's domestic profile ahead of future Olympic cycles.
Point of View
Not just cricket. The 15-second shot clock format is a deliberate bid to make archery broadcast-friendly — the same logic that turned kabaddi and badminton into viable league properties. The harder question is whether APL can convert this star power into sustained domestic viewership and grassroots participation, because without that second step, marquee names remain an expensive import rather than a structural investment in Indian archery.
NationPress
22 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
When and where is Archery Premier League Season 2 being held?
APL Season 2 is scheduled to be held in Hyderabad starting 8 October, running for 11 days. The event is supported by the Government of Telangana and organised under the Archery Association of India.
Who is Casey Kaufhold and why is her APL debut significant?
Casey Kaufhold is a US archer who won a bronze medal at the Paris 2024 Olympics at the age of 20. Her APL debut marks the first time she will compete in an Indian archery league, adding a high-profile international name to the Season 2 roster.
Which other international archers are competing in APL Season 2?
The international line-up includes Tokyo Olympic gold medallist Mete Gazoz (Turkey), two-time Olympic bronze medallist Alejandra Valencia (Mexico), world No. 1s Marcus D'Almeida (Brazil) and Andrea Becerra, 2025 World Championship silver medallist Mathias Fullerton, and Great Britain's Ella Gibson, among others.
What is the format of the Archery Premier League?
APL features 48 athletes divided across six region-based franchise teams, combining Recurve and Compound archers with men and women competing together. A 15-second shot clock is the league's signature innovation, adding speed and pressure to each contest.
How many Olympic medallists are part of APL Season 2?
Three Olympic medallists are part of the Season 2 international roster: Casey Kaufhold (Paris 2024 bronze, USA), Mete Gazoz (Tokyo 2020 gold, Turkey), and Alejandra Valencia (two-time bronze, Tokyo and Paris Olympics, Mexico).
