APL Season 2: Chola Chiefs beat Kakatiya Knights 6-2 with compound archer tactic
Synopsis
Chola Chiefs cracked the code in APL Season 2 — opening each set with both compound archers to post perfect 40s and bury the Kakatiya Knights under immediate scoreboard pressure. With Colombian debutante Alejandra Usquiano shooting a flawless eight-arrow, all-10s performance, the Chiefs turned a tactical hypothesis into a 6-2 result. The tactic could reset how other franchises approach set strategy for the rest of the tournament.
Key Takeaways
Chola Chiefs defeated Kakatiya Knights 6-2 in APL Season 2 at People's Plaza, Hyderabad on 9 October .
Colombian debutante Alejandra Usquiano shot all eight arrows for 10s , delivering a perfect debut performance.
Chiefs' tactical change — deploying compound archers Rishabh Yadav and Usquiano at the start of each set — enabled perfect 40/40 openings in the first two sets.
The Chiefs posted a near-perfect 79 out of 80 in the decisive fourth set, with Deepika Kumari and Marcus D'Almeida contributing key recurve arrows.
Both teams are now on one win and one defeat each after two matches.
The APL Season 2 grand finale is scheduled for 18 October at Hyderabad.
Chola Chiefs registered their first win of Archery Premier League (APL) Season 2 on Friday, 9 October, defeating Kakatiya Knights 6-2 at People's Plaza, Hyderabad, with a deliberate tactical gamble on compound archers that paid off handsomely from the very first set.
Colombia's Usquiano Steals the Show on APL Debut
Colombian archer Alejandra Usquiano, making her APL debut, delivered a flawless outing for the Chiefs — shooting all eight arrows for 10s. Her precision gave the Chiefs an immediate psychological and scoreboard edge throughout the contest. It was a debut performance that will be difficult to surpass in this edition of the league.
The Tactical Tweak That Decided the Match
The Chiefs' key strategic adjustment was deploying their two compound archers — Rishabh Yadav and Usquiano — at the start of each set, rather than alternating with recurve archers. This allowed them to post a perfect 40 out of 40 in the opening halves of the first two sets, immediately loading pressure onto the Kakatiya Knights.
The Knights, led by Nico Wiener, stuck to their usual rotation of two compounds and two recurves alternating. In the second set, the scoreboard pressure told — Neeraj Chauhan barely had time to release his final arrow and could manage only a 5, helping the Chiefs post a dominant 76 in that set and surge to a 4-0 lead.
Knights Fight Back — But Only Briefly
The Knights had famously clawed back from a 0-4 deficit against the Mighty Marathas on Day 1, and there were signs of a revival in the third set. Neeraj redeemed himself with a clutch 10 with the 8th arrow, while Marcus D'Almeida could manage only a 3 for the Chiefs when a 9 would have sealed the match. The Knights took the third set 76-70 to make it 4-2.
Chiefs Close Out with a Near-Perfect Fourth Set
Any hope of a Knights comeback was extinguished in the fourth set, which was quite simply the Chiefs' finest passage of play. They posted a remarkable 79 out of 80, with compound archers continuing their blitz and recurve stars Deepika Kumari and D'Almeida stepping up to clinch the set 79-76 and seal the match 6-2.
After two rounds of matches, both the Chola Chiefs and Kakatiya Knights are level on one win and one defeat each.
What's Next in APL Season 2
Day 3 action at People's Plaza will open with Mighty Marathas taking on Chola Chiefs, followed by Prithviraaj Yodhas versus Chero Archers. The day will conclude with defending champions Rajputana Royals facing the Kakatiya Knights. The league's grand finale is scheduled for 18 October, featuring the top four teams in the semifinals before the title clash.
The Archery Premier League, billed as the world's first franchise-based archery league, is an initiative of the Archery Association of India and comprises six teams and 48 archers — 36 Indians and 12 elite international stars.
Point of View
Yet most teams have defaulted to predictable alternating rotations. Usquiano's all-10s debut also raises a pointed question: with 12 international slots available across six franchises, are all teams getting as much out of their overseas picks? The Chiefs, at least, appear to have cracked the brief early.
NationPress
9 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the result of the Chola Chiefs vs Kakatiya Knights APL Season 2 match?
Chola Chiefs defeated Kakatiya Knights 6-2 in the Archery Premier League Season 2 match played on 9 October at People's Plaza, Hyderabad. It was the Chiefs' first win of the season.
Who was the standout performer for Chola Chiefs?
Colombian archer Alejandra Usquiano was the standout performer on her APL debut, shooting all eight arrows for 10s to deliver a perfect scorecard for the Chiefs. Her performance was central to the team's dominant 6-2 victory.
What tactical change did Chola Chiefs use against Kakatiya Knights?
The Chiefs opened each set with both their compound archers — Rishabh Yadav and Alejandra Usquiano — rather than alternating with recurve archers. This allowed them to post perfect 40 out of 40 in the first halves of multiple sets, applying immediate scoreboard pressure on the Knights.
What is the Archery Premier League (APL)?
The Archery Premier League is billed as the world's first franchise-based archery league, initiated by the Archery Association of India. It features six teams and 48 archers — 36 Indians and 12 elite international stars — and is currently in its second season at People's Plaza, Hyderabad, with the grand finale set for 18 October.
What matches are scheduled for Day 3 of APL Season 2?
Day 3 will see Mighty Marathas face Chola Chiefs in the opener, followed by Prithviraaj Yodhas versus Chero Archers. The day concludes with defending champions Rajputana Royals taking on Kakatiya Knights, all at People's Plaza, Hyderabad.
