Paris 2024 Olympic bronze medallist Casey Kaufhold of the USA is set to make her Archery Premier League debut as 12 leading international archers from 10 countries join the line-up for Archery Premier League Season 2. The second edition of APL will begin in Hyderabad on 8 October 2026.
The Archery Premier League, an initiative of the Archery Association of India (AAI) with support from the Government of Telangana, will feature Olympians, world champions and some of the highest-ranked archers in the sport.
A total of 48 athletes will compete across six region-based franchises, with the second season bringing together Indian talent and an impressive international contingent.
| APL Season 2 Details | Information |
|---|---|
| Tournament | Archery Premier League Season 2 |
| Start Date | 8 October 2026 |
| Venue | Hyderabad |
| Duration | 11 Days |
| Total Athletes | 48 |
| Franchise Teams | 6 |
| International Archers | 12 |
| Countries Represented by Overseas Archers | 10 |
| Disciplines | Recurve and Compound |
| Format Feature | 15-second shot clock |
| Initiative | Archery Association of India |
| Support | Government of Telangana |
| Major APL Debut | Casey Kaufhold |
Casey Kaufhold to Make Archery Premier League Debut
One of the biggest additions to APL Season 2 is American archer Casey Kaufhold, who won a bronze medal at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at the age of 20.
Kaufhold will join an elite international roster that includes Olympic medallists Mete Gazoz of Turkey and Alejandra Valencia of Mexico, both of whom participated in the inaugural edition of the league.
Speaking about her upcoming APL debut, Kaufhold said she was looking forward to experiencing the competition and its distinctive format. She described the league’s 15-second shot clock as a new challenge that will demand focus, composure and confidence with every shot.
The American archer also expressed her excitement about competing alongside some of the world’s leading archers and interacting with archery fans in India.
Mete Gazoz and Alejandra Valencia Return for Season 2
APL Season 2 will also see the return of some of the biggest names from the inaugural tournament.
Turkey’s Mete Gazoz, gold medallist at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, and Mexico’s Alejandra Valencia, a two-time Olympic bronze medallist from Tokyo and Paris, are among the leading returning international competitors.
Reigning World Games individual champions Mike Schloesser and Andrea Becerra will also return after participating in the inaugural season. Schloesser is currently ranked World No. 2, while Becerra holds the World No. 1 position.
Season 1 standout and 2025 World Championship silver medallist Mathias Fullerton, currently World No. 1, will return for another campaign.
Mexico’s 22-year-old Matias Grande, currently ranked World No. 3, and Spain’s Elia Canales are also part of the international line-up for the 11-day competition.
More International Stars Set for Hyderabad
Colombia’s Alejandra Usquiano, currently World No. 3 in Compound Archery, is another major international name set to make her APL debut.
Brazil’s Marcus D’Almeida, currently World No. 1 and a bronze medallist at the 2014 Youth Olympic Games, will also make his first appearance in the league.
Great Britain’s Ella Gibson, currently World No. 2, will return for the second season. Gibson was part of the Rajputana Royals, the winning franchise in the inaugural edition.
World No. 5 Compound archer Nico Wiener will also be back for APL Season 2.
12 International Archers from 10 Countries
Commenting on the international line-up, Anil Kamineni, Director of APL, said bringing 12 leading international archers, including three Olympic medallists, reflects the league’s ambition to establish India as an important destination on the global archery calendar.
He highlighted Kaufhold’s debut and the return of champions such as Mete Gazoz and Alejandra Valencia as significant additions that can raise the competitive standard of the league.
According to Kamineni, competing alongside some of the world’s best archers will also provide valuable international exposure to Indian athletes.
48 Athletes Across Six APL Franchises
The second edition of the Archery Premier League will feature 48 athletes divided among six region-based franchise teams.
APL combines Recurve and Compound Archery, with male and female athletes competing together in its franchise-based team format.
The presence of Olympic medallists, world champions and top-ranked international athletes alongside leading Indian archers is expected to further strengthen the competition in Season 2.
About Archery Premier League
The Archery Premier League (APL) is India’s franchise-based archery league initiated by the Archery Association of India.
Launched in 2025, APL brings together leading Indian and international archers in a team competition designed to present the sport in an engaging and spectator-friendly format.
Six franchise teams compete in the league, which combines Recurve and Compound archers and features both men and women competing together.
One of APL’s distinctive features is its 15-second shot clock, designed to add speed, strategy and intensity to each contest.
Through international-level competition and a franchise format, the Archery Premier League aims to broaden the appeal of archery, strengthen India’s sporting ecosystem and create greater opportunities for athletes while bringing fans closer to some of the world’s leading archers.
With Casey Kaufhold making her debut and Olympic medallists Mete Gazoz and Alejandra Valencia returning, Archery Premier League Season 2 is set to bring a strong international field to Hyderabad from 8 October 2026.
