Archive · 10 Oct 2026
How a 15-Second Shot Clock Helped Indian Archers Handle Pressure
In archery, athletes usually have a short time to shoot each arrow.
The Archery Premier League made that time even shorter, giving archers 15 seconds instead of 20.
The organizers hoped this would help them focus and cope with pressure.
Some Indian archers said they liked having less time to worry or change their minds.
Neeraj Chauhan said the quick pace helped him trust his shot.
Sahil Jadhav said it made him shoot faster.
The league’s approach was intended to help athletes prepare for tough competitions.
Indian archers later won nine Asian Games medals, including five gold.
Athletes and organizers said competing under pressure can help archers become more comfortable in important contests.
The Archery Premier League reduced the time allowed per arrow from 20 seconds to 15.
Founder Anil Kamineni said the shorter limit was intended to improve archers’ focus under pressure.
Neeraj Chauhan said the faster pace leaves less time to dwell on previous shots or second-guess technique.
Sahil Jadhav said the format encouraged quicker shooting and helped him cut about two seconds from his individual routine.
Indian archers won nine medals, including five gold, at the Asian Games, and athletes credited the league’s approach with helping them compete.
- Who
- Indian archers, including Neeraj Chauhan and Sahil Jadhav, and Archery Premier League founder Anil Kamineni.
- What
- The league introduced a 15-second limit per arrow to encourage faster focus and pressure-ready shooting.
- When
- The league was conceptualized last year and held this year; the article also discusses the archers’ Asian Games performances.
- Where
- The league was conceptualized in Delhi and held in Hyderabad.
- Why
- Organizers aimed to make competition more pressurized so archers would concentrate faster and become more accustomed to pressure.
Supporters of the 15-second format
Concerns about pressure and timing
Effect of the shorter clock
Supporters of the 15-second format
Kamineni and the archers quoted said the faster limit promotes quicker focus, reduces overthinking, and helps athletes get used to pressure.
Concerns about pressure and timing
The article notes that the format is designed to make situations more treacherous, while some athletes still shoot near the end of their allotted time; it presents no direct claim that the shorter limit harms performance.
How athletes prepare for pressure
Supporters of the 15-second format
Kamineni argued that placing archers under more pressure in the league could help them concentrate and gradually reduce fear.
Concerns about pressure and timing
Sahil Jadhav said competition is the way to get used to competitive pressure, and the article mentions possible future trials that could include round-robins and time-pressure formats.
- Shot-clock limit
- 15 seconds per arrow, reduced from 20 seconds.
- League
- Archery Premier League (APL).
- Founder
- Anil Kamineni.
- League locations
- Conceptualized in Delhi and held in Hyderabad.
- Indian medal haul
- Nine medals, including five gold.
- Neeraj Chauhan’s account
- He said the shorter limit left no time to dwell on a previous arrow or overthink the next shot.
- Sahil Jadhav’s account
- He said the format helped him automatically cut about two seconds from his individual shooting routine.