Kaufhold, D’Almeida set for Archery Premier League debuts as stars return
Paris 2024 Olympic bronze medallist Casey Kaufhold and Brazil’s world number one Marcus D’Almeida are set to make their Archery Premier League debuts when the second season gets underway in Hyderabad (India) on 8 October.
The two are among 12 international archers confirmed for the 11-day competition, joining an elite field that includes Olympic medallists Mete Gazoz of Türkiye and Alejandra Valencia of Mexico, both returning after competing in the inaugural season.
Colombia’s world number three compound archer Alejandra Usquiano is also among the high-profile names making their first appearance in the league this year.
“Bringing 12 leading international archers, including three Olympic medallists, to APL Season 2 reflects our ambition to make India an important destination on the global archery calendar,” Archery Premier League director Anil Kamineni said in a release.
“Casey Kaufhold’s debut, alongside the return of champions such as Mete Gazoz, gold medallist at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, and Alejandra Valencia, two-time Olympic bronze medallist, will uplift the level of competition and give Indian archers invaluable exposure to the world’s best.”
Kaufhold, who claimed the mixed team bronze at Paris 2024 alongside legend Brady Ellison, is looking forward to testing herself in the league’s fast-paced format.
“The 15-second shot clock will be a new challenge, but I enjoy formats that demand focus, composure and trust in every shot,” said Kaufhold. “I am also excited to compete alongside some of the world’s best archers and connect with the passionate archery fans in India.”
The compound field will feature some of the sport’s biggest names, with world number two and four-time World Archery Champion Mike Schloesser returning for a second season alongside world number one Andrea Becerra.
Denmark’s Mathias Fullerton, who impressed during the inaugural season before winning silver at the 2025 World Archery Championships, will also return to Hyderabad.
Mexico’s Matias Grande and Spain’s Elia Canales are among the other international archers returning for season two.
An initiative of the Archery Association of India, the Archery Premier League brings together 48 athletes across six region-based franchises.
The second season, supported by the Government of Telangana, will run from 8-18 October in Hyderabad.
