Non-cricket franchise leagues in India look for sustainable models

Archery’s rising star Rishabh Yadav had never shot in such an electric atmosphere before — taking aim amidst 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.

- BY S VENKAT NARAYAN OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT

It was a new experience for some of India’s finest archers and promising talents, and top stars who competed in the inaugural Archery Premier League at the Yamuna Sports Complex here.

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 (PKL) at the Thyagraj Stadium. The Delhi leg of PKL will be followed by the 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 archery and 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. Similar ambition might spell trouble. A sustainable model for a consistent run remains a major challenge for non-cricket leagues. Take the relaunched Hockey India League (HIL), which was revived after almost eight years but is grappling with financial instability, getting top internationals and player salaries.

New leagues like APL, therefore, will need to carve their own space and build a model that can work in the long run.

The Archery Association of India (AAI) has high hopes in its model. Its main objective is to promote the sport and provide Indian archers exposure and top competition. The APL from October 2-12 featured six teams and a total of 48 archers, including 12 internationals. The unique format has recurve and compound archers in mixed teams, shooting at 70m and 50m respectively.