APL Season 2: Chola Chiefs stun Rajputana Royals 5-3 with bold new batting order
Synopsis
Already eliminated, Chola Chiefs refused to go quietly — upending defending champions Rajputana Royals 5-3 with a bold tactical reshuffle. Alejandra Usquiano's near-perfect 79/80 and Rajat Chauhan's clutch final arrow did the damage, leaving the Royals' title defence hanging by a thread with one match to go.
Key Takeaways
Chola Chiefs beat Rajputana Royals 5-3 (77-69, 73-78, 76-74, 76-76) in APL Season 2 at People's Plaza, Hyderabad on 16 October 2025 .
Alejandra Usquiano shot 79 out of 80 , with six 10s and five X-ring arrows.
Rajat Chauhan proposed the new shooting order and sealed the win with a clutch final arrow of 9 in the fourth set.
Rajputana Royals , the defending champions, remain on 8 points with one match left, their playoff place under threat.
The APL grand finale is scheduled for 18 October at People's Plaza, Hyderabad .
Chola Chiefs upstaged Rajputana Royals with a 5-3 victory in Season 2 of the Archery Premier League (APL) at People's Plaza, Hyderabad on Friday, 17 October 2025, playing spoilsports for the second consecutive evening despite having already been eliminated from playoff contention. The result deals a significant blow to Rajputana Royals' title defence, leaving them on 8 points with just one league fixture remaining.
The Tactical Masterstroke
Chola Chiefs deployed a revamped shooting order that caught Royals off guard — fielding Alejandra Usquiano and veteran Rajat Chauhan as closing compound anchors in each set, with recurve archers shooting ahead of them. Rajat Chauhan himself revealed he had proposed the arrangement to the coaching staff, drawing on his extensive experience as the closing shooter for the Indian compound team internationally over many years. The coaches were quick to back the idea.
This is not the first time Chiefs have shown tactical flexibility — earlier in the season, they opted to send compound archers back-to-back at the start of sets. The willingness to experiment, despite an inconsistent campaign overall, has marked them as a disruptive force in the league's closing stages.
Usquiano and Chauhan Deliver Under Pressure
Colombian star Alejandra Usquiano was once again the standout performer, shooting an impressive 79 out of 80 on the day — just one below her perfect score of 80 the previous evening. Of her eight arrows, six were 10s, with five of those landing in the X-ring, before she hit her sole 9. It was a display of near-flawless precision that Royals had no answer to.
Rajat Chauhan then delivered in the clutch: his final arrow in the fourth set — a 9 — levelled the scores and earned Chiefs a crucial set win, wrapping up the match 5-3. The compound pair combined for a perfect 40 in the third set alone, effectively turning the contest on its head after Royals had clawed back the second set.
How the Match Unfolded
Royals endured a shaky start in the first set, managing only 69, with Tokyo Olympic champion Mete Gazoz finishing on a 6. They regrouped for the second set after bringing in Ella Gibson as a substitute for Swati Dudhwal, taking that set comfortably. But Chiefs responded emphatically — a perfect 40 from their compound pair secured the third set, and Chauhan's closing arrow in the fourth sealed it. Final scores: 77-69, 73-78, 76-74, 76-76.
Playoff Picture and What's at Stake
Rajputana Royals, the defending champions, remain on 8 points and must win their final league match to protect their playoff position. Chola Chiefs move to 6 points, but their set-points difference is too large to bridge, ruling them out of the top four regardless of Saturday's result.
Saturday's action at People's Plaza features four matches: Mighty Marathas take on Kakatiya Knights in a potential contest for the top spot; Chola Chiefs play Chero Archers in a pride match; and the league phase closes with a rematch of the Season 1 final — Rajputana Royals vs Pritvhiraaj Yodhas. Eliminator 1 will immediately follow, with the grand finale set for 18 October.
The Archery Premier League — the world's first franchise-based archery league, initiated by the Archery Association of India — comprises six teams and 48 archers, including 36 Indians and 12 international stars. Season 2 also introduces a revised playoffs format that rewards higher league finishers with two bites at the cherry, while third and fourth-placed sides meet in Eliminator 1 on the penultimate day.
Point of View
With a defending title on the line, found themselves undone not by a better team in the table but by a more creative one in the moment. The APL's new playoffs format, which rewards league position, is sound in principle, but it cannot protect a top side from a rival that has shed all pressure. Expect coaches across franchise archery to study Chauhan's compound-anchor model closely.
NationPress
16 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the result of the Chola Chiefs vs Rajputana Royals APL Season 2 match?
Chola Chiefs beat Rajputana Royals 5-3 in the Archery Premier League Season 2 match held on 16 October at People's Plaza, Hyderabad. The set scores were 77-69, 73-78, 76-74, and 76-76.
What new tactic did Chola Chiefs use against Rajputana Royals?
Chola Chiefs fielded Alejandra Usquiano and Rajat Chauhan as compound anchors in the closing positions of each set, with recurve archers shooting before them. Rajat Chauhan reportedly suggested the order to the coaches, drawing on his experience as a closing shooter for the Indian compound team internationally.
How did Alejandra Usquiano perform in the match?
Usquiano shot 79 out of 80, with six 10s and five of those in the X-ring before hitting her first 9. It followed a perfect 80 she had registered the previous day, confirming her as one of the standout performers of the tournament.
What is Rajputana Royals' situation after this defeat?
The defending champions remain on 8 points with only one league match left, leaving their title defence under threat. A loss in their final fixture could jeopardise their playoff position entirely.
When is the APL Season 2 grand finale?
The grand finale of Archery Premier League Season 2 is scheduled for 18 October at People's Plaza, Hyderabad. The tournament is the world's first franchise-based archery league, initiated by the Archery Association of India.
