World number one Marcus D’Almeida ready for Archery Premier League debut
World number one Marcus D’Almeida will experience India’s Archery Premier League from the inside for the first time this season, having followed the inaugural edition from afar.
The Brazilian was particularly impressed by the high level of competition and how much fun the archers seemed to have despite the pressure.
“I watched the first season of the APL, and what really stood out to me was the high level of competition and how much fun the archers seemed to be having out there,” D’Almeida said. “Seeing that combination got me excited to be part of it myself.”
The atmosphere around the competition also caught his attention, with the crowd energy, quality of the archers and production of the event leaving a strong impression on the reigning world number one.
“Everything I saw got me excited – the crowd energy, the level of the archers, the production and structure of the event. Everything was really high quality, and that was definitely part of why I wanted to be involved this season.”
D’Almeida will now get his chance when the second season begins in Hyderabad on 8 October. The competition runs until 18 October and will feature 48 archers across six franchises, including 36 Indian and 12 international archers.
He is among three international archers making their Premier League debut this season, alongside USA Olympic bronze medallist Casey Kaufhold and Colombia’s world number three compound archer Alejandra Usquiano.
One of the league’s defining features is its 15-second shot clock, which Kaufhold has described as a new challenge.
For D’Almeida, however, the time pressure feels far more familiar.
“Early in my career, my teammates would often take longer on their shots, and I'd be the one closing it out, usually with 15 seconds or less left on the clock,” he said.
“Early in my career, my teammates would often take longer on their shots, and I’d be the one closing it out, usually with 15 seconds or less left on the clock,” he said. “So this format actually feels pretty familiar to me.”
That familiarity could prove valuable in a format designed to add speed and pressure to elite archery, with every second becoming part of the contest.
D’Almeida will be part of a strong field that includes Olympic Champion Mete Gazoz of Türkiye, Mexico’s Olympic medallist Alejandra Valencia Trujillo and some of India’s biggest names.
Newly crowned Hyundai Archery World Cup Champion Dhiraj Bommadevara will headline the Indian contingent alongside Deepika Kumari, Atanu Das and Abhishek Verma, among others.
Yet D’Almeida does not have one particular opponent in mind.
“Honestly, we already compete against the top archers in the world quite often, so it’s not really about one name in particular,” he said. “For me, this is just another great opportunity to compete at a high level.”
The second season will also feature all 12 Indian archers selected for the upcoming Asian Games, adding further depth to an already competitive field.
Beyond the competition itself, D’Almeida is looking forward to experiencing the league in India after watching it from afar last season.
The Archery Premier League will be staged under lights from 19h30 to 21h30 at People’s Plaza, with Hussain Sagar Lake, its fountains and the Telangana Secretariat providing a picturesque backdrop for the event.
D’Almeida has simple goals for his first APL: enjoy the experience, make the most of India and, of course, try to take a trophy home from Hyderabad.
D’Almeida has simple goals for his first appearance: enjoy the experience, make the most of India and, of course, try to take a trophy home from Hyderabad.
