Asian Games gold medalist Dhiraj wants to test archers day and night

World No.4 archer Dhiraj Bommadevara has called for a combination of day and night matches in the Archery Premier League (APL), saying exposure to different shooting conditions could help Indian archers prepare better for major international competitions.

The Asian Games gold medalist, who became the first Indian to win an individual gold from a World Championship final, featured in both seasons of the league. Both editions were held entirely under the lights, but Dhiraj believes the introduction of daytime competitions alongside evening matches would give archers a more varied competitive experience.

“It is good that we are getting opportunities to shoot both in the morning and at night. This helps us prepare for different situations,” Dhiraj, who represents the Mighty Marathas in the APL, told PTI.

“We never know if the competition will be held in the morning or in the evening. We have to prepare for every possibility.”

International competitions, including the Olympics and World Championships, may include matches at different times of the day. Dhiraj said archers must be ready to adapt rather than rely on a fixed schedule.

“I can’t definitively say if it makes a difference or not. But it’s good that we get opportunities to shoot both in the morning and in the evening,” he said.

WIND ADDS CHALLENGE

The APL’s move from Delhi to Hyderabad brought another variable into play: wind. Dhiraj said the conditions in Hyderabad were significantly different, forcing archers to pay more attention to communication and tactical coordination between return and combination shooters.

“The main change is the wind factor. It wasn’t very windy in Delhi, especially at night. But in Hyderabad, we experienced significant wind, whether we shoot in the morning or at night,” he said.

The changing conditions have added another dimension to the league, giving archers the opportunity to test their adjustments and decision-making in a competitive environment.

LEARNING FROM THE BEST

Apart from the matches, Dhiraj believes the APL has helped Indian archers build closer relationships with international competitors and learn more about how they train and handle pressure.

The league has several top names in the sport, including Dutch compound archer Mike Schloesser, who represents the Marathas, Mathias Fullerton of Chero Archers and Tokyo Olympic champion Mete Gazoz of Rajputana Royals.

Dhiraj credited the league, especially its inaugural season, with helping Indian and overseas archers interact better.

“We’re talking to everybody. But I’d like to give credit to the league as a whole. When the first season started, that’s when we started to open up more,” he said.

“We used to exchange greetings like good morning or good afternoon. If we had asked a few more questions, we would have shared some information. But the league, especially its first season, helped us open up and talk a lot more.”

Those interviews, he said, offer insights beyond what archers might observe during competition. Training sessions allow them to understand how opponents prepare, while matches reveal how they react to pressure.

“During tournaments, we see how different archers think and handle situations. During training, we understand how they prepare for these moments,” said Dhiraj.

HOPE FOR KOREAN ARCHERS

Dhiraj also expressed hope that South Korean archers, who are among the most successful in the sport, will participate in future editions of the APL. However, their absence did not stop Indian archers from benefiting from the international field.

“Wherever you have an opportunity to learn, you should take it. Even if the Koreans are not here, it does not mean that we are missing out. Of course, it would be good if they participated,” he said.

The South Korean archers missed the first two seasons as the league clashed with national events in their home country. Dhiraj hopes that their participation in future editions will further enhance the learning opportunities available to Indian archers.

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