In a landmark development for Indian archery, the Archery Association of India (AAI) has officially announced the launch of the first edition of the Archery League, a franchise-based international tournament designed to bring together the world’s top recurve and compound archers. The event aims to elevate the sport’s profile both nationally and globally while fostering competitive excellence and greater audience engagement.
Scheduled to be held at the prestigious Yamuna Sports Complex in Delhi, the inaugural season of the Archery League will unfold over 11 days in October 2025. The tournament will feature six franchise teams, each consisting of a blend of elite Indian archers and top-ranked international players. This format is expected to boost the competitive intensity and attract significant attention from archery enthusiasts across the globe.
Franchise Format and International Participation
The league’s franchise-based model follows successful examples from other sports in India, such as cricket’s Indian Premier League (IPL) and kabaddi’s Pro Kabaddi League, aiming to build a strong fanbase and commercial ecosystem around archery. Each franchise will draft players from a pool that includes world-class archers ranked in the top 10 internationally, making it one of the most elite assemblies of archery talent.
By incorporating both recurve and compound disciplines, the league ensures comprehensive representation of the sport’s competitive categories. This inclusive approach is designed to highlight the skills and strategies unique to each style, offering fans a rich and diverse viewing experience.
Leadership and Vision
The Archery League is being driven under the visionary leadership of AAI President Arjun Munda, who has championed the growth of archery in India through strategic initiatives and international collaborations. Munda’s focus on elevating the sport’s infrastructure and visibility is evident in this ambitious tournament, which is poised to become a flagship event on the Indian archery calendar.
The AAI leadership envisions the league as a catalyst for strengthening the national archery ecosystem, providing a platform for emerging Indian talent to compete alongside and learn from global stars. This exposure is expected to help young archers gain invaluable experience, improve their performance in international competitions, and raise the overall standard of the sport in the country.
Boosting Archery’s Popularity and Reach
Archery, a sport with deep historical roots in India, has witnessed a steady rise in popularity due to recent international successes by Indian archers. The Archery League aims to capitalize on this momentum by bringing the sport closer to fans and creating an engaging, entertaining format suitable for television and digital audiences.
In addition to showcasing elite competition, the league will also focus on fan engagement activities, grassroots promotions, and community involvement, thereby broadening the sport’s base and nurturing a new generation of archery enthusiasts.
With the first season set for October 2025 at the Yamuna Sports Complex, excitement is building around the Archery League’s potential to transform the landscape of Indian archery. As franchises prepare to field their best players and fans eagerly await the spectacle, the tournament promises to be a defining moment for the sport’s future in India and beyond.
By merging competitive excellence with innovative sports management, the Archery Association of India is scripting a new chapter in the journey of Indian archery, one arrow at a time.
