The Mighty Marathas are the champions of the Archery Premier League Season 2 after producing a stunning comeback to defeat Kakatiya Knights 6-2 in the grand final at People’s Plaza in Hyderabad on Sunday.
Powered by a sensational display from India’s recurve star Dhiraj Bommadevara, who shot 79 out of 80, and a flawless 80 out of 80 from Dutch compound ace Mike Schloesser, the Mighty Marathas avenged their earlier defeats to the same opponents and lifted their first APL title.
It was a remarkable turnaround. The Marathas had lost to the Knights in their final round-robin match on Saturday and then again in the first qualifier on Sunday, going down 4-4 before losing the shoot-off 2-0. Forced to take the longer route, they defeated Prithviraaj Yodhas 5-3 in the second eliminator to earn another shot at the championship, and this time they delivered when it mattered most.
Mighty Marathas Complete Remarkable Turnaround
The final began with both teams sharing the opening set 75-75 after Bommadevara delivered a 10 with his last arrow, while the Knights’ Neeraj Chauhan finished with an eight. Bommadevara continued his sublime form in the second set, shooting two inner-10s to put the Mighty Marathas in front.
The Knights fought back in the third, with Chauhan and Bommadevara both producing crucial arrows, but the Mighty Marathas shared the set to maintain their advantage. Needing to win the fourth set to force a shoot-off, the Knights crumbled under pressure as Nico Wiener, Jyothi Surekha Vennam, Elia Canales and Chauhan all opened with nines. The Mighty Marathas capitalised ruthlessly, scoring a breathtaking 79 to complete the 6-2 victory.
The title was sealed in fitting style, with Bommadevara’s final arrow finding the inner X-ring, the innermost ring used to determine the winner in a tie-breaker. The set scores told the story of a contest that swung on fine margins before the champions pulled away decisively in the closing exchanges.
Mighty Marathas Stars Deliver on the Big Stage
Bommadevara was the undisputed star of the final. His 79 out of 80 was a masterclass in composure, and he was subsequently named the male recurve archer of the day as well as of the entire tournament. Schloesser, meanwhile, lived up to his nickname of ‘Mr Perfect’ with a flawless 80, having come into the team in place of Aman Saini ahead of the second eliminator.
Strategic substitutions proved decisive for the champions. Alongside Schloesser’s introduction, Simranjeet Kaur stepped in for experienced international Alejandra Valencia during the second eliminator and delivered under pressure. The Marathas squad’s depth and calm under fire became the defining features of their title run.
Asked about the secret behind the turnaround, Bommadevara summed up the team’s philosophy: “Believing in each other, keeping patience, and attack-attack-attack. To be honest, the truth is that we changed nothing after losing the first qualifier, and that I think is the beauty of this team.”
What the Mighty Marathas Triumph Means
The Mighty Marathas’ victory capped a season that showcased the growing depth of Indian archery. The individual honours reflected the quality on display: Schloesser claimed the compound male award for the day, Elia Canales of the Knights was recognised as the best recurve female archer of the day, and Prithika Pradeep of Chero took the compound female award. For the tournament, Sangeeta of Rajputana Royals won the recurve female honour, Mathias Fullerton of Chero was named the top compound male archer, and Alejandra Usquiano of Chiefs claimed the compound female award.
For the Marathas, though, the team trophy was all that mattered. From the brink of elimination to champions in a single day, their Season 2 triumph will be remembered as one of the great comebacks in the young history of the Archery Premier League. It also underlines the league’s growing stature as a proving ground for Indian archers, with several of the country’s leading recurve and compound talents delivering under finals pressure on the biggest stage.