New Delhi: After years of anticipation and delays, the Indian Archery League is finally set to launch in October 2025 at New Delhi’s Yamuna Sports Complex, the Archery Association of India (AAI) announced on Tuesday. The league will feature six city-based franchise teams, marking the world’s first franchise-format competition in the sport of archery.
Originally conceptualized in 2020, the league had been on hold due to a lack of sponsorship. However, with funding now secured, and broadcasters like Sony Sports and JioHotstar in active discussions, the AAI is confident the league will go live later this year.
“This will be a game-changer for Indian archery,” said AAI treasurer Joris Paulose Ummacheril. “Everything should be finalized by the end of the month. While we’re calling it the Indian Archery League for now, the official name will be confirmed soon.”
So far, franchises have been confirmed in Delhi, Hyderabad, and Bengaluru, with three more cities expected to be announced shortly. Each team will comprise eight archers—four in recurve and four in compound, with equal representation of men and women in each discipline. Importantly, each franchise will be required to include two international archers, ensuring a competitive and diverse playing field.
Drawing parallels to the impact of the Indian Premier League (IPL) on cricket, officials hope the archery league will inspire a similar transformation in the sport. India, despite its growing global presence, has never won an Olympic medal in archery.
Kisik Lee Appointed as India’s Chief Coach
In another major development, the Sports Authority of India (SAI) has cleared the appointment of Korean legend Kisik Lee as the chief national coach for India’s archery team, with a contract running until the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. The contract has been sent to Lee for formal acceptance.
“SAI has approved all his terms following the final round of interviews. We expect Lee to sign in the next few days,” said Joris.
Lee, aged 67, is regarded as one of the sport’s most successful coaches. He has trained athletes to win over 300 World Cup medals, including more than 150 golds, and three Olympic podiums during his tenure with USA Archery (2006–2024). Prior to that, he famously guided Simon Fairweather to a gold medal at Sydney 2000 and Tim Cuddihy to bronze at Athens 2004.
His most celebrated student is Brady Ellison, a five-time Olympic medallist and one of archery’s all-time greats. Lee is credited with revolutionizing Ellison’s technique and consistency through his scientific, structured training programs.
Although the AAI initially considered offering Lee a contract through the 2032 Brisbane Olympics, his age prompted a shorter term, with a review planned after the Los Angeles Games. Lee will oversee both elite and junior recurve programs, aiming to strengthen India’s Olympic prospects over the next few years.
Rahul Banerjee Set to Travel as Women’s Coach
Meanwhile, former Olympian Rahul Banerjee, coach to top archers Deepika Kumari and Atanu Das, is likely to accompany the Indian squad as women’s coach for upcoming international tournaments, including the World Cup Stage 4 in Madrid (July 8–13) and the World Championships in Gwangju (September 5–12).
“With Deepika topping the qualification rounds, Banerjee is expected to travel as per the current policy, which allows the coach of the top-ranked archer to accompany the team,” Joris noted.
If confirmed, Banerjee will temporarily replace Poornima Mahato, a long-serving coach in the women’s archery circuit.
Together, the launch of the Indian Archery League, the high-profile appointment of Kisik Lee, and structural changes in the coaching setup mark a significant leap forward for Indian archery, which is seeking to establish itself as a major force on the international stage.
