Indian Archery League Set To Launch In October 2025; AAI Hires Lee As India Coach
The Indian Archery League, with six city teams, starts in October at New Delhi's Yamuna Sports Complex. Delayed since 2020, it has sponsorship and is in talks with broadcasters.
The highly anticipated franchise-based 'Indian Archery League' is finally set to commence in October at the Yamuna Sports Complex in New Delhi, featuring six city-based teams, as confirmed by Archery Association of India (AAI) treasurer Joris Paulose Ummacheril on Tuesday.
Initially conceptualised in 2020, the league faced delays due to a lack of sponsors. However, the AAI has now secured sponsorship and is in discussions with broadcasters, including Sony Sports and JioHotstar, to launch the league this year.
This will be the world's first franchise league in archery, and the federation is hopeful of a strong response that will significantly aid in the development of Indian archers, who are yet to win an Olympic medal.
'Everything will be finalised by the end of this month, and we are hopeful of launching the league in October. We are calling it the Indian Archery League, but the name is not yet finalised," Joris told PTI.
Three teams from Delhi, Hyderabad, and Bengaluru have already been confirmed, with the remaining franchises to be decided soon. Each franchise will represent a city, depending on ownership and league plans.
Each team will consist of eight archers, with four in recurve and four in compound, including two men and two women in each category. It will be mandatory for each team to include two overseas archers.
'We've seen how the IPL has revolutionised Indian cricket, and we are confident this league will do something similar for archery," another AAI official said.
As reported by PTI last week, Lee's appointment has now been formally approved, and the contract, running until the LA Games, has been sent to him for signature.
'The Sports Authority of India has accepted all his terms and conditions after the final round of interviews. He is expected to sign the contract in the next couple of days," Joris confirmed.
Lee is expected to join the Indian team after the World Championship in September and before the inaugural Archery League.
Aged 67, Lee has an impressive coaching legacy, having guided archers to over 300 World Cup medals, including more than 150 gold, and three Olympic podium finishes during his tenure with the USA from 2006 to 2024. He also coached Australia's Simon Fairweather to gold at Sydney 2000 and Tim Cuddihy to bronze at Athens 2004. His most decorated protégé is Brady Ellison, a five-time Olympic medallist, widely regarded as one of the sport's greatest names, thanks in large part to Lee's structured training programmes and innovative techniques.
'Initially, we wanted to offer him a contract until the 2032 Olympics, but considering his age, we'll review things after Los Angeles," Joris added.
Lee is expected to work across both the elite and junior recurve programmes, further strengthening India's Olympic prospects.
Rahul Banerjee likely to travel as women's coach
Former Olympian and 2010 Commonwealth Games gold medallist Rahul Banerjee, currently the personal coach of Deepika Kumari and Atanu Das, is likely to travel with the Indian team for the World Cup Stage 4 in Madrid (July 8–13) and the World Championships in Gwangju (September 5–12). If confirmed, Banerjee will replace long-serving women's coach Poornima Mahato.
'As per the current policy, the coach of the top-ranked Indian archer travels with the team. Deepika topped the qualification round, so Banerjee is tipped to go," Joris said.
(with agency inputs)
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