APL has brought the sport to the forefront reminds me of how RRR was embraced by world cinema with heart, pride, and passion: Ram Charan

World’s First Professional Archery League Marks a Milestone with Season 1 Celebration in Delhi

(L to R): Actor Ram Charan, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and Mr. Anil Kamineni, Chairman of Archery Premier League.

Rakesh Thapliyal

New Delhi: The Archery Premier League (APL), the world’s first-ever professional archery league, celebrated the immense success of its debut season with a press conference and gathering at the Yamuna Sports Complex, Delhi. The event brought together league stakeholders, star archers, and dignitaries to acknowledge its unprecedented impact in elevating Indian archery’s global profile.

(L to R) Treasurer AAI Dr Joris, Archer Mathias Fullerton, Archer Brady Ellison, Chairman Anil Kamineni, Actor Ram Charan, President Arjun Munda, Secreatry General Virender Sachdeva, Archer Dhiraj Bommadevara, Archer Abhishek Verma, Archer Chikitha, Archer Ella Gibson , Archer Katherine Bauer, Archer Deepika Kumari, Archer Jyothi Vennam.

The event witnessed the participation of international and Indian archery greats including 2024 Olympic recurve world participant Katherine Bauer , Brady Ellison (Olympian and one of America’s most decorated recurve archers), Ella Gibson (World No. 1, Britain), Mathias Fullerton (World No. 2, Denmark), India’s decorated archers Deepika Kumari, Dhiraj Bommadevara (Olympic 2024 recurve participant), compound world champion Jyothi Vennam, Asian Games medallist Abhishek Verma, and rising Indian star Chikitha Taniparthi together presenting a powerful blend of global and homegrown talent.

The evening was also graced by notable personalities including actor and APL flagbearer Ram Charan, Dr Joris Treasurer Archery Association of India, Mr. Arjun Munda, President of the Archery Association of India (AAI), Mr. Anil Kamineni, Chairman of Archery Premier League and Mr. Virender Sachdeva, Secretary General Archery Association of India alongside top Indian and international archers.

After meeting with Prime Minister Global Star and APL brand ambassador Ram Charan wrote on ‘X’ “Honoured to meet Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi Ji the success of the world’s first Archery Premier League, led by Anil Kamineni Garu.This is our small step to preserve the legacy of archery and promote it worldwide. Congratulations to all the athletes, we hope many more will join this incredible sport.”

At the Press meet Ram Charan said, “APL is a vision turning into reality. We’re all going to miss this energy once it’s over tomorrow. It’s truly special to see this incredible collaboration that unites Olympians and world-class archers on one platform. The way APL has brought the sport to the forefront reminds me of how RRR was embraced by world cinema with heart, pride, and passion. I want to thank everyone on stage and the Archery Association of India for this vision. Hopefully, what we’re witnessing here isn’t just a dream, but the beginning of a new era for Indian archery.”

Mr. Arjun Munda, President, Archery Association of India, stated: “We’ve long believed that archery deserves a professional platform in India, and the APL has truly delivered on that vision. The format, fan engagement, and athlete participation have set a new benchmark for world archery. The archers who’ve now been introduced to global audiences will continue to rise, inspiring and connecting even more deeply with aspiring talent across the country.”

Mr. Anil Kamineni, Chairman, Archery Premier League, added: “We’re thrilled with the response. The league has united legends and rising stars through world-class production and storytelling, creating strong momentum for the sport. No other league has achieved this — and our platform has also opened new doors for world archery. Watching our archers perform alongside some of the finest talents from around the globe was truly incredible. As world’s first platform, the level of sporting excellence on display in our tournament gives us great confidence that we have a bright future ahead.”

Mr. Virender Sachdeva, Secretary General, Archery Association of India, remarked: “The success of APL’s inaugural season shows a rising passion for archery in India. Our goal is to elevate archery to mainstream sports status, and this energy reflects that achievement. The archery bonding among archers is truly remarkable. You might feel archery is smooth, but there is a lot of effort that goes into it.”

The celebration concluded with media interactions, photo sessions, and a festive luncheon with athletes sporting their team colors. As the league approaches its grand finale on October 12, anticipation is at an all-time high for a spectacular conclusion to a truly historic debut season.

APL Season 1 Highlights So Far
• Participation from top-ranked archers like Deepika Kumari, Jyothi Surekha Vennam, Brady Ellison, Ella Gibson, and others
• Six franchises representing India’s renowned warrior clans
• Packed audiences and robust digital engagement
• High-octane team matchups with global talent and Indian pride
• Widespread praise from fans, federations, and media.