Asian Games Heroes to APL Stars: 5 Young Indian Archers to Watch in Season 2

India’s next generation of archery stars is arriving on the Archery Premier League stage with Asian Games medals, world-level experience, and compelling stories of perseverance.

Fresh from a historic Asian Games campaign, several of India’s young recurve and compound archers will now turn their attention to Archery Premier League Season 2, which gets underway in Hyderabad on October 8. The league will feature some of the country’s brightest young talents alongside established international names, with its fast-paced 15-second shooting format testing speed, composure and decision-making.

For some, it will be a chance to build on their Season 1 experience. For others, it will mark their APL debut. Here are five young Indian archers to watch closely this season.

1. Kumkum Mohod, 17

At just 17, Kumkum Mohod has already etched her name into Indian archery history.
The young recurve archer became the first Indian to win an individual recurve gold at the Asian Games. She was also part of the Indian women’s recurve team that ended South Korea’s 28-year dominance in the event, alongside Ankita Bhakat and Kirti Sharma.

Her success comes against a backdrop of remarkable family sacrifice. Her father, Anil, makes cardboard boxes for sweet shops in Amravati to support the family, while Kumkum continues to compete with a five-year-old second-hand bow.

Her rise has also included World Cup gold medals in Shanghai and Antalya. After featuring in Season 1, Kumkum returns to the APL with Chero Archers, bringing international experience and a major confidence boost into Season 2.

Asian Games medals:

• Gold – Women’s Individual Recurve
• Gold – Women’s Recurve Team
• Silver – Mixed Recurve Team

2. Kirti Sharma, 20

Kirti Sharma’s journey to the top has been anything but straightforward. The Haryana archer was once told she was too thin to hold a bow. Years later, she stood on the Asian Games podium with a gold medal after helping India’s women’s recurve team defeat South Korea and end its 28-year reign.

Her family made significant sacrifices to support her ambitions. Her father, a small farmer, took a ₹60,000 loan to buy her a recurve bow, while Kirti later moved nearly 1,350 kilometres from home to train in Hazaribagh.

She has continued to make progress on the international circuit, reaching the World Cup Stage 4 semifinals in Madrid. Now, Kirti is ready for another new challenge: her APL debut with Prithviraaj Yodhas in Hyderabad.

Asian Games medal:

• Gold – Women’s Recurve Team

3. Prithika Pradeep, 18

Prithika Pradeep is quickly establishing herself as one of India’s promising young compound archers.

The 18-year-old was part of India’s gold-medal-winning women’s compound team at the Asian Games, adding another major achievement to a career that has progressed rapidly from junior to senior international competition.

Her recent form has been equally encouraging. At World Cup Stage 4 in Madrid, Prithika won an individual bronze and a team silver. She also collected gold and silver medals at the 2025 Asian Archery Championships.

Having played in the inaugural APL season, Prithika already knows what to expect from the league’s demanding 15-second shooting format. She returns with Chero Archers, hoping to turn that experience into another strong campaign.

Asian Games medal:

• Gold – Women’s Compound Team

4. Chikitha Taniparthi, 21

Chikitha Taniparthi’s Asian Games campaign was one to remember.

The 21-year-old won two gold medals, first helping India claim the women’s compound team title before teaming up with Sahil Jadhav to win the mixed-team event.

That mixed-team victory also secured India’s LA28 quota place in the compound mixed team event, adding even greater significance to her achievement.

Her path to the international stage has been powered by major sacrifices from her family. Her father, Srinivas Rao, a farmer from Telangana, sold the family’s harvester to help fund her training, travel, and equipment.

A world youth champion and a Season 1 APL player, Chikitha returns to the league with Chola Chiefs, carrying both experience and momentum into Season 2.

Asian Games medals:

• Gold – Women’s Compound Team
• Gold – Mixed Compound Team

5. Ganesh Mani Ratnam Thirumuru, 20

Ganesh Mani Ratnam Thirumuru announced himself on the senior stage with a two-medal Asian Games campaign.

The 20-year-old helped India win men’s compound team gold alongside Sahil Jadhav and Kushal Dalal before adding an individual bronze.

His breakthrough has been years in the making. Ganesh won individual and team gold at the 2024 Asian Youth Championships and went on to become a junior world champion in 2025.

Now comes another important step in his development. Ganesh will make his APL debut with Prithviraaj Yodhas, facing the league’s distinctive 15-second shooting format for the first time.

Asian Games medals:

• Gold – Men’s Compound Team
• Bronze – Individual Compound

A new test for India’s young archery stars

The Asian Games provided a glimpse of the depth developing in Indian archery. The APL now offers these young medal winners another opportunity to test themselves under pressure.

With the league’s 15-second format demanding faster decisions and greater composure, Season 2 could prove to be an important stepping stone for athletes already making their mark on the international stage.