APL: Chola Chiefs clinch first win as Chero Archers and Prithviraj Yodhas also prevail

Chola Chiefs defeated Kakatiya Knights 6-2 to register their first win of Archery Premier League season-2 at the People’s Plaza in Hyderabad on Friday, October 9, 2026. Chero Archers beat Rajputana Royals 6-2 and Prithviraj Yodhas overcame Mighty Marathas 6-2 in other matches on the same day.

Colombian debutant Alejandra Usquiano shot all eight of her arrows for 10s for the Chiefs, and the team’s decision to have compound archers Rishabh Yadav and Usquiano fire both arrows in the first half produced a perfect half of 40. That early scoreboard advantage placed pressure on Nico Wiener’s Kakatiya Knights, and Chiefs’ recurve archers Deepika Kumari and Marcus D’Almeida combined to clinch the decisive final set 79-76.

Chola Chiefs beat Kakatiya Knights 6-2 (74-76, 70-76, 76-70, 79-76), with the tactical reshuffle and Usquiano’s scoring central to the victory. The compound pair’s strong opening and the recurve pair’s closing set were cited as the pillars of the Chiefs’ turnaround in the contest.

Rajputana Royals took the first set against Chero Archers but were unable to sustain the start, and Chero’s substitution of Atanu Das for Yashdeep Bhoge ahead of the second set proved decisive. Atanu Das and Casey Kaufhold helped Chero recover and secure a 6-2 win over the Royals.

Rajputana Royals lost to Chero Archers 2-6 (78-69, 66-78, 77-78, 72-78), with the second, third and fourth sets swinging in Chero’s favour after the mid-match change.

Prithviraj Yodhas registered their first win of the season by defeating Mighty Marathas 6-2. The Marathas started well but failed to build on their opening play; Abhishek Verma’s Yodhas came within a single arrow of a perfect 80 in the third set before Matias Grande’s eighth arrow landed in the nine zone.

Mighty Marathas lost to Prithviraj Yodhas 2-6 (73-71, 75-76, 77-79, 74-76).

The results from the People’s Plaza fixtures were: Chola Chiefs bt Kakatiya Knights 6-2 (74-76, 70-76, 76-70, 79-76); Rajputana Royals lost to Chero Archers 2-6 (78-69, 66-78, 77-78, 72-78); Mighty Marathas lost to Prithviraj Yodhas 2-6 (73-71, 75-76, 77-79, 74-76).