APL: ‘One of the most welcoming and generous countries’ — World No. 1 Brady Ellison mesmerised by India’s massive fan base

New Delhi – USA’s world No. 1 recurve archer **Brady Ellison** is experiencing a memorable debut visit to India, both professionally and personally. Competing in the inaugural **Archery Premier League (APL)** in New Delhi, the American legend has been deeply touched by the warmth, enthusiasm, and admiration of Indian fans while leading the **Chola Chiefs** franchise.

The six-team APL, which began on **Dussehra (October 2)**, will run until **October 12**. Under Ellison’s leadership, the Chola Chiefs have won two of their three matches so far, with the world champion displaying impressive form and composure on the range.

“It’s really nice. I’m still struggling with jet lag — practicing more and then taking naps in the middle of the day,” Ellison laughed, adding that he’s overwhelmed by the crowd’s affection. “I can feel the fan base here. People are taking photos, asking for autographs — it’s amazing. The energy is incredible.”

A five-time Olympian and six-time **Archery World Cup Final** champion — the only male archer to achieve that feat — Ellison’s illustrious career includes **five Olympic medals**, among them an **individual silver in Paris** and a **bronze in Rio**. He is also a three-time **field archery world champion**.

Now, he’s relishing the challenge of competing in the unique APL format, which brings together India’s top names — **Deepika Kumari, Atanu Das, Tarundeep Rai, Abhishek Verma**, and rising stars **Ojas Deotale, Jyothi Surekha Vennam,** and **Dhiraj Bommadevara**.

“When I first heard about the APL, I wasn’t sure how it would work,” said Ellison, who began his career as a compound archer before switching to recurve in 2005.

Each APL team consists of eight players — a mix of recurve and compound archers — and matches are played under a fast-paced timed format. Ellison believes this blend of divisions is a positive step for the sport, particularly with **compound archery set to debut at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics** in the mixed team event.

“I think this is great for archery,” he said. “Compound is the next evolution of the sport, and it deserves its space. I’d love to see compound grow at the Olympics while keeping recurve strong.”

However, Ellison admitted that the **120-second time limit** per set — during which teams must shoot **eight arrows (two per archer)** — is proving to be the biggest challenge.

“Almost every team is shooting right at the buzzer. People are rushing to the line and making mistakes we don’t normally see,” he observed. “When I first read the rules — 120 seconds for eight arrows — I thought it had to be a typo! But it’s brilliant. It’s forcing everyone to adapt, rotate faster, and think on their feet. It’s tough, but exciting.”

He added that as the league progresses, archers will likely adjust to the pressure. “It’ll be interesting to see if frustration sets in or if we get better at managing the clock. Either way, it’s a great learning experience.”

Reflecting on his time in India, Ellison expressed heartfelt admiration for the people and their hospitality.

“I’m really impressed with this country. It’s one of the most welcoming and giving places I’ve ever been to. Everyone is so kind and thoughtful — always asking if you need anything or just bringing things to help. It’s such a generous culture, very different from what I expected or have seen anywhere else,” he said.

With inputs from IANS