Bollywood actor Randeep Hooda and his wife, actor and former national-level archer Lin Laishram, have stepped into sports entrepreneurship as co-owners of Delhi’s franchise Prithviraj Yodhas in the inaugural Archery Premier League (APL). They join hands with Dr. Vikas Garg, Chairman of Ebix Group, in this venture.
The 10-day league, organized by the Archery Association of India (AAI), is scheduled from October 2 to 12 at the Yamuna Sports Complex, New Delhi. Supported by World Archery, World Archery Asia, and the Sports Ministry of India, the APL marks a landmark effort to popularize archery in India.
For Laishram, who began archery at the age of 10 under the guidance of her father—the then President of the Archery Association of Manipur-the new role is deeply personal. A former Junior National Champion (1998) and Tata Archery Academy alumna, she had to quit competitive archery due to injury but never lost her passion for the sport.
“Archery gave me discipline, patience, and perseverance. To return now as a team owner and support young archers is a dream come true. I hope to inspire more people, especially young girls, to embrace the sport,” Laishram said.
Hooda echoed the sentiment, calling it a “homecoming” for his wife. “Owning a team with Lin is incredibly special. Archery has been a big part of her life, and seeing her reconnect with it this way is heartwarming. We want to support athletes and bring archery closer to audiences across India,” he said.
Dr. Garg emphasized the league’s larger vision. “The APL is a transformative milestone for Indian archery, turning it into a fan-friendly sport while nurturing talent. With the Prithviraj Yodhas, we aim to champion excellence, innovation, and India’s rich sporting traditions,” he noted.
The Archery Premier League 2025 will feature six franchises, each comprising eight archers—four men and four women—competing in a double round-robin format followed by semifinals and a final. Indian stars like Deepika Kumari, Dhiraj Bommadevara, Jyothi Surekha Vennam, and Rishabh Yadav will share the arena with international names such as Mike Schloesser (Netherlands), Andrea Becerra (Mexico), and Brady Ellison (USA).
With its mix of Indian and global talent, the APL aims to make archery more thrilling, competitive, and accessible to fans across the country.
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