Asian Games Champion Kumkum Mohod Makes Return as Chero Archers Suffer APL Defeat

Kumkum Mohod Returns After Asian Games Gold as Chero Archers Lose APL Thriller

Asian Games gold medallist Kumkum Mohod made her return to action in the Archery Premier League (APL) Season 2 on Saturday, but Chero Archers suffered their first defeat of the tournament after losing a dramatic shoot-off against Prithviraaj Yodhas in Hyderabad.

The Yodhas clinched a 4-4 (1-0) victory at People’s Plaza after a tense contest that required several rounds of sudden death. Mexican recurve archer Matias Grande delivered the decisive shot, guiding his team to a memorable win.

Chero Archers fought back in the fourth set to level the match and force a tie-breaker. However, the first shoot-off failed to produce a winner, with all eight archers unable to hit the inner yellow ring under the league’s hit-or-miss format.

The contest then progressed to sudden death, where both teams continued to trade shots. Grande eventually hit the inner ring in the third round, while Prithika Pradeep could not match his effort, sealing the Yodhas’ victory.

Mohod, competing for the first time since her gold-medal success at the Asian Games, showed promising form on her return. Nevertheless, Chero Archers’ unbeaten streak ended in a contest that remained undecided until the final arrow.

Grande described the victory as a special achievement, noting that the result depended on fine margins and the collective efforts of the entire team rather than one individual performance.

Mighty Marathas Dominate Chola Chiefs

Mighty Marathas recorded their first victory of the season with an emphatic 6-0 triumph over Chola Chiefs earlier in the day.

Dutch compound archer Mike Schloesser, widely known as ‘Mr. Perfect’, delivered a flawless performance by scoring six 10s from six arrows. India’s Dhiraj Bommadevara also stepped up at a crucial moment to help the Marathas maintain control of the match.

The Marathas edged the opening set 74-73 before extending their lead to 4-0 in the second. Bommadevara produced a vital 10 as the clock ran down, strengthening his team’s position.

They subsequently secured the third set 74-72 to complete a comprehensive victory without dropping a set.

Kakatiya Knights Hand Royals Another Defeat

Kakatiya Knights ended the day’s action with a 6-2 victory over defending champions Rajputana Royals, leaving the title holders with consecutive defeats.

Asian Games recurve bronze medallist Neeraj Chauhan delivered important X-ring 10s, while Jyothi Surekha Vennam contributed significantly to the Knights’ recovery after they lost the opening set.

Tokyo Olympic champion Mete Gazoz helped the Royals take an early advantage, but the Knights responded by winning the next three sets to secure the match.

Teams Battle for APL Play-off Spots

The second edition of the Archery Premier League features six teams and 48 archers, including 36 Indians and 12 international competitors.

The tournament will conclude on October 18, with the top four teams advancing to the semi-finals before the championship decider.

Sunday’s fixtures will see Chero Archers face Kakatiya Knights, Chola Chiefs take on Prithviraaj Yodhas, and Mighty Marathas meet defending champions Rajputana Royals.

As the league stage continues, the teams will be aiming to secure crucial points and strengthen their chances of reaching the semi-finals.