At the DDA Yamuna Sports Complex in New Delhi, the Archery Premier League (APL) delivered three nail‑biter battles on Day 4. Mighty Marathas, Prithviraaj Yodhas and Rajputana Royals all kept the crowd on its toes, each win coming after tense shoot‑offs and clutch arrows.
—
### Marathas defeat Chola Chiefs 5–3
The match opened with Mike Schloesser striking the bull’s‑eye for Marathas. Rishabh Yadav answered with a solid nine, and the two teams traded fractions of a point for the first set. Marathas edged it 76–73, giving the match a 2–0 lead.
In the second set, both teams hit perfect 10s in the first two shots. Brady Ellison’s perfect finish for the Chiefs pulled them level 77–75. The third set was a see‑saw, with the Chiefs leaving Marathas trailing 77–77 after a 9 from the Marathas and a perfect 10 from Ellison.
The third rally saw Marathas return with a 10, but the Chiefs’ Deepika Kumari kept them in the game. The score stayed locked at 77–77, setting the stage for a close finale.
The fourth set saw Marathas start with another perfect 10, but Yadav answered. The Chiefs slipped on a 9, letting Yadav take the lead with a tiny 10. Schloesser later tied the set again, but the Royals finally sealed it 77–75 when Dhiraj hit a bull‑seye. The match ended 5–3 in favour of the Marathas – the third straight APL win for the team.
—
### Yodhas win shoot‑off against Chero Archers
Abhishek Verma opened strong for the Yodhas with a 10, and the Archers matched. The match became a one‑to‑one battle as both sides hit in the high 70s. After a few 8s and 9s that shifted momentum, the Yodhas took the lead 76–75.
In the second set, Verma again hit a perfect 10, and the Archers answered, keeping the match tied. The third and fourth sets were separated by a single 10‑point swing – the Yodhas led 4–2 after the fourth set.
The final set copied the earlier pattern. After a series of 10s and 8s from both teams, the Archers kept a sliver ahead until the last arrow. Verma hit a 6, but the final 8 from the Archers left the score level again. The tie forced a shoot‑off. Verma and Gatha each delivered bull’s‑eyes, but the Yodhas edged ahead and captured the match in the sudden‑death shoot‑off.
—
### Rajputana Royals beat Kakatiya Knights 6–2
The Knights started brightly, firing a perfect 10 in the first shot. Rajputana responded with a 10 from Ojas Deotale, and the score was 74–74 in the first set. The second set ended 74–74 once again after a back‑and‑forth of perfect 10s.
The third set was the turning point: the Royals won 77–76, taking a 4–2 lead. In the fourth set, the Royals dominated with a string of 10s, finishing the set 77–64, a shutout for the Knights. The final score of 6–2 secured the climax of Day 4 for the confident Royals.
—
The day’s matches showcased the skill and nerves of India’s top archers. The Marathas, Yodhas and Royals all moved ahead with decisive performances, while the Chiefs, Archers and Knights left the competition open for future showdowns. Stay tuned for the upcoming APL fixtures as teams vie for the championship title.
Source: ianslive
Stay informed on all the latest news, real-time breaking news updates, and follow all the important headlines in world News on Latest NewsX. Follow us on social media Facebook, Twitter(X), Gettr and subscribe our Youtube Channel.
