Chero Archers Return for Archery Premier League Season 2 with a Strong Mix of World-Class and Indian Talent
Tata Steel’s franchise set to compete in APL Season 2 in Hyderabad from October 8–18
Jamshedpur, September 30, 2026:
Chero Archers, the Jharkhand-based franchise owned by Tata Steel, are set to return for the second season of the Archery Premier League (APL), scheduled to be held from October 8 to 18, 2026, at People’s Plaza, Necklace Road, Hyderabad.
Following an encouraging debut season in 2025, where Chero Archers progressed to the semi-finals and finished fourth, the franchise will enter Season 2 with a refreshed eight-member squad comprising some of the leading names in international and Indian archery.
The second edition of the APL will feature six franchise teams and 48 Indian and International archers, competing across the recurve and compound disciplines. The league will follow a double round-robin format, with the top four teams progressing to the semi-finals before the final on October 18. Matches will be played under lights at People’s Plaza.
A strong Chero Archers squad for Season 2
Chero Archers will field an eight-member squad, comprising four recurve and four compound archers, with an equal representation of men and women.
The squad includes World No. 1 compound archer Mathias Fullerton of Denmark, who returns to the Chero Archers setup after an impressive first season. He will be joined by Indian compound archers Sahil Rajesh Jadhav, Prithika Pradeep and Jasveer Kaur.
The recurve contingent features Yashdeep Bhoge, Atanu Das, Casey Kaufhold and Kumkum Anil Mohod. The squad combines international experience with some of India’s leading domestic archers.
Chero Archers – APL Season 2 Squad
Category Archer Selection/Ranking
Compound Men Mathias Fullerton WA Rank 1
Compound Men Sahil Rajesh Jadhav AAI Rank 1
Compound Women Prithika Pradeep AAI Rank 3
Compound Women Jasveer Kaur AAI Rank 6
Recurve Men Yashdeep Bhoge AAI Rank 3
Recurve Men Atanu Das AAI Rank 4
Recurve Women Casey Kaufhold WA Rank 3
Recurve Women Kumkum Anil Mohod AAI Rank 2
AAI : Archery Association of India
WA : World Archery
The international contingent further strengthens the squad, with Fullerton and Kaufhold bringing significant global experience to the Chero Archers line-up. World Archery has confirmed both athletes among the international stars competing in Season 2.
Chero Archers’ impressive Season 1 campaign
Chero Archers made a strong impression during the inaugural edition of the APL in 2025. The team reached the semi-finals, eventually finishing fourth in the competition.
The team’s international archers were among the standout performers during the inaugural season. Mathias Fullerton was named Compound Archer of the Day on five occasions, while Katharina Bauer was recognised as Recurve Archer of the Day three times, underlining the consistency of the Chero Archers squad throughout the tournament.
The team eventually faced Rajputana Royals in the semi-final, with the Royals going on to win the inaugural APL title.
Tata Archery Academy talent made a mark across APL Season 1
The inaugural APL also saw several athletes from Tata Archery Academy (TAA), represent different franchises and contribute to their respective teams’ campaigns.
Ankita Bhakat represented the Rajputana Royals, who went on to become the inaugural APL champions. Krish Kumar, another TAA archer, represented Prithviraaj Yodhas, who finished runners-up. Bhajan Kaur and Mrinal Chauhan represented the Mighty Marathas, who finished third. Chero Archers completed the top four after their semi-final appearance.
This resulted in athletes from Tata Archery Academy featuring prominently across the top four teams of the inaugural APL.
Tata Archery Academy athletes return for Season 2
The association between Tata Archery Academy and the APL will continue in Season 2, with Ankita Bhakat returning to the Rajputana Royals, the defending champions.
A new addition this season is Yuktha Sri Kondapavuluri, another archer from the Tata Archery Academy ecosystem, who has been selected to represent the Chola Chiefs in Season 2.
The latest APL roster confirms Ankita Bhakat and Yuktha Sri among the Indian recurve women competing in the second season.
Experienced coaching team
Chero Archers will continue with its existing coaching structure from the inaugural season.
Purnima Mahato, Head Coach of Tata Archery Academy and Recurve Coach of Chero Archers, will continue to lead the recurve programme, while Vivek will continue as the Compound Coach.
Purnima Mahato, a Padma Shri awardee and three-time Indian Olympic Archery Team Coach, brings extensive experience to the franchise and has been an integral part of Tata Steel’s archery ecosystem. She has also been named as the brand ambassador for Chero Archers for APL season 2.
Hyderabad to host the second edition
The second season of the Archery Premier League will bring six franchises together at People’s Plaza, Necklace Road, Hyderabad, from October 8 to 18, 2026. The matches are scheduled to be played under lights, with the competition taking place in an iconic Hyderabad setting overlooking the Hussain Sagar Lake. The league will retain its distinctive 15-second shot clock, adding to the fast-paced nature of the competition.
Chero Archers’ team base: The Park Hotel 22, Raj Bhavan Road, Somajiguda, Hyderabad
With a blend of international stars, experienced Indian Olympians and emerging Indian talent, Chero Archers will look to build on their semi-final appearance in the inaugural season and continue to represent Jharkhand and Tata Steel on one of India’s newest professional sporting platforms.
Teams playing in the Archery Premier League :
1. Chero Archers
2. Chola Chiefs
3. Kakatiya Knights
4. Mighty Marathas
5. Prithviraaj Yodhas
6. Rajputana Royals
Fixture of Chero Archers in APL Season 2 :
1. 8th Oct : Chola Chiefs
2. 9th Oct : Rajputana Royals
3. 10th Oct : Prithviraaj Yodhas
4. 11th Oct : Kakatiya Knights
5. 12th Oct : Mighty Marathas
6. 13th Oct : Rajputana Royals
7. 14th Oct : Prithviraaj Yodhas
8. 15th Oct : Kakatiya Knights
9. 16th Oct : Mighty Marathas
10. 17th Oct : Chola Chiefs
All the matches will be broadcasted on Sony Liv.
