Four teams are level on six points at the halfway stage of the Archery Premier League season two, with Chero Archers holding on to the top spot despite suffering a dramatic shoot-off defeat to Mighty Marathas at the People’s Plaza in Hyderabad, India, on Monday.
Mighty Marathas and Kakatiya Knights defeated Chero Archers and Prithviraaj Yodhas, respectively, to keep the standings tight, while defending champions Rajputana Royals returned to winning ways.
Chero, Marathas, Yodhas and Knights have all recorded three wins from five matches, but Chero lead the table with a superior set difference of +10, having won 25 sets and lost 15. Marathas sit second with a difference of +4, followed by Yodhas (+3) and Knights (-1).
The leaders had enjoyed a convincing 6-0 victory over Kakatiya Knights on Sunday, bouncing back in style to record their third win in four matches.
Led by in-form Atanu Das, Chero delivered a dominant performance to establish themselves as one of the teams to beat early in the competition. “Last year was tough for us, this time we have a super strong team and we are managing the time really well,” said Atanu after Sunday’s victory.
Casey Kaufhold, meanwhile, was enjoying the challenge of the league’s shorter shooting time of 15 seconds per arrow.
“I just see it as fun. When I look at the clock and it says 11 seconds, I am like, you know let’s go. What else can you do, other than step up and shoot a good arrow?”
