3 weeks ago
Can Archery Premier League build business around India's archery success?
India is very good at archery and has won world championships.
But archery is not a big money-making sport, so archers have not always earned much.
In 2025, a new league called the Archery Premier League, or APL, started in India.
It is the first archery league in the world where teams are owned like in cricket or football.
The matches are faster and more exciting, lasting about 20 minutes.
People watched on TV and online, with hundreds of thousands of views.
But the first season did not earn back all the money it cost.
The people in charge want to make archers famous so they can earn from fans and sponsors.
If it works, archers could have real careers instead of being known only during the Olympics.
APL, launched in 2025, is the world's first franchise-based archery league, run by the Archery Association of India (AAI).
The first season did not break even; Delhi franchise owner Dr Vikas Garg says it could take two to four more seasons to do so.
The league cut the shooting window from 20 to 15 seconds, mixes men and women in team structures and stages matches of around 20 minutes under lights.
Season one recorded 110,000 views and 3.15 million minutes of watch time on Sony LIV, plus 103,527 views on YouTube Live.
AAI wants APL to become one of India's top two sports leagues, building revenue from media rights, sponsorships, merchandise and gate receipts, with PKL and ISL cited as benchmarks.
- Who
- The Archery Association of India (AAI), which operates the league, franchise owners such as Dr Vikas Garg of the Delhi franchise, and India's top archers.
- What
- The launch and development of the Archery Premier League (APL), the world's first franchise-based archery league, as a commercial platform around the sport.
- Where
- India.
- When
- Launched in 2025; the league's second season is upcoming.
- Why
- To turn India's international archery success into a sustainable business — with media rights, sponsorships, merchandise and gate revenue — and make archery a viable professional career.
Key facts
- League
- Archery Premier League (APL)
- Launch year
- 2025
- Governing body
- Archery Association of India (AAI)
- Inaugural season franchises
- 6
- Season one prize pool
- ₹2 crore
- Shooting window
- 15 seconds (reduced from 20)
- Match length
- About 20 minutes
- Sony LIV season one viewership
- 110,000 views; 3.15 million minutes watch time
Quotes
Dr Vikas Garg
Chairman and owner of the Delhi franchise
“That’s not a gap in sport; that’s a gap in business.”
financialexpress.com
“Fans follow people before they follow teams.”
financialexpress.com
Archery Association of India
Organization that administers the APL
“Any income that may come in will be handy for the Association to be self-sufficient and take care of its day to day requirements.”
financialexpress.com
Sources
Related news
Olympic Medalist Casey Kaufhold Set for Archery Premier League Debut
Corporate India Urged to Build Sports, Not Just Sponsor
Pique's chess investment signals franchise future for Global Chess League
India’s Padel Economy Expands as Investors Chase Sustainable Growth
Sathiyan Says Ecosystem Support Is Key To India's Sporting Rise
GDP Row Escalates as Government Rebuts 2.6% Growth Claim
India’s Avocado Boom Turns Luxury Fruit into Farmer Opportunity
Putin Faces Western Isolation While Russia Builds Non-Western Ties
India’s Global Power Ambitions Face Economic and Democratic Setbacks
Modi’s Frugality Appeal Contrasts With Extensive Foreign Travel
