Mighty Marathas were crowned champions of Archery Premier League (APL) Season 2 on 18 October at People's Plaza, Hyderabad, defeating Kakatiya Knights 6-2 in the grand final after a dramatic comeback that required them to take the longer route to the title clash. The victory was sealed by a breathtaking performance from recurve star Dhiraj Bommadevara, who finished the match with a decisive arrow into the inner X-ring.

Dhiraj and Schloesser Deliver a Masterclass

The final belonged to two archers above all others. Dhiraj Bommadevara posted a near-flawless 79 out of 80 in the title clash, while Dutch compound ace Mike Schloesser — known on the circuit as 'Mr. Perfect' — lived up to his nickname with a perfect score of 80 out of 80. Schloesser had also scored 79 in the second eliminator earlier in the day, underscoring his consistency across both knockout matches.

Dhiraj was subsequently named the male recurve archer of the day as well as the best male recurve archer of the tournament, a dual honour that capped a remarkable personal campaign. 'Believing in each other, keeping patience, and attack-attack-attack,' Dhiraj said when asked about the turnaround mantra. 'To be honest, the truth is that we changed nothing after losing the first match, and that I think is the beauty of this team.'

The Road to the Final: Marathas Take the Scenic Route

The path to glory was anything but straightforward for Mighty Marathas. Kakatiya Knights — the local franchise representing Hyderabad — had beaten Marathas in the last league match on Saturday and again in the first qualifier on the final day, the latter via a tense Hit-or-Miss Shootoff in which Knights' foreign stars Nico Wiener and Elia Canales nailed the inner golden ring for a 2-0 result. Marathas were forced into the second eliminator, where they beat Prithviraaj Yodhas 5-3 to earn their spot in the finale. The rematch delivered a decisive reversal.

Smart Substitutions Proved the Difference

Marathas' coaching staff made two tactical calls that proved pivotal. Aman Saini was replaced by Schloesser before the second eliminator — a move that immediately paid dividends. In the final, experienced Mexican international Alejandra Valencia was substituted mid-match by Simranjeet Kaur, who held her nerve in pressure moments and contributed to the team's bench depth proving decisive.

How the Final Unfolded

The title clash began with a split first set at 75-75, with Neeraj Chauhan's final-arrow 8 proving costly against Dhiraj's 10. The second set was even more dramatic as Dhiraj shot two inner-10s to push Marathas ahead. Both sides traded blows in the third set, but Marathas tied it to maintain their advantage. Entering the final set, Knights needed a win to force a shootoff. However, pressure told as all four Knights archers — Wiener, Jyothi Surekha Vennam, Canales, and Neeraj — opened with 9s, leaving them with an uphill task. Marathas then closed out the set with a stunning 79, sealing the championship 6-2.

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 (AAI). Season 2 comprised six teams and 48 archers — 36 Indians and 12 elite international stars — and was held at People's Plaza, Hyderabad. The league's expansion of India's archery ecosystem to a franchise format places it in the same structural category as established T20 and kabaddi leagues. With Marathas claiming the Season 2 title, attention will now turn to what Season 3 looks like in terms of team composition and broadcast reach.