Non-cricket franchise leagues look for sustainable models

Archery Premier League hopes low franchise fees and financially viable model work

- Avishek Roy and Sandip Sikdar

Archery's rising star Rishabh Yadav had never shot in such an electric atmosphere before — taking aim amid dhol beats under floodlights and a vibrant background. Neither had the seasoned Deepika Kumari, Tokyo Olympics champion Mete Gazoz, or reigning women’s compound world champion Andrea Becerra. Itwas a new experience for some of India’s finest archers and promising talent, and top stars who competed in the inaugural Archery Premier League at the Yamuna Sports Complex.

The format itself was innovative, bringing recurve and compound archery together for the first time, making for an engaging 10-day tournament.

The Capital is also hosting the Pro Kabaddi League at the Thyagraj Stadium. The Delhi leg of PKL Will be followed by playoffs and grand finale of its 12th season here.

The second part of the year is the season of leagues in India, and this year, Olympic sports like archeryand shooting have joined the fray. While the Shooting League of India has been pushed to early next year, excitement remains high for a new competition in one of India’s most successful sports.

Yet, federations know that launching a franchise league is one thing, sustaining it is another. What worked for cricket's IPL may not work for other sports considering its massive fan base and financial clout India enjoys. That's not the case with others.