Mumbai: Bollywood actor Randeep Hooda and his wife, actor and former national-level archer Lin Laishram, have stepped into sports entrepreneurship as co-owners and brand ambassadors of Prithviraj Yodhas, Delhi’s franchise in the inaugural Archery Premier League (APL). The team is co-owned alongside visionary leader Dr. Vikas Garg, Chairman of Ebix Group, which has also come on board as the Title Sponsor.
The much-anticipated 10-day APL will take place from October 2 to 12, 2025, at the Yamuna Sports Complex, featuring a mix of India’s top archery talent and international stars.
For Lin, the move represents a return to her sporting roots. Inspired by her father, she began archery at the age of 10, later training at the Tata Archery Academy and becoming Junior National Champion in 1998. An injury halted her competitive career, but her passion for the sport remained undiminished.
Randeep Hooda, Co-owner, Prithviraj Yodhas, said, “Owning a team with Lin is incredibly special. Archery has been a big part of her life, and seeing her return to the sport in this way is heartwarming. Together, we want to support these talented athletes and bring archery closer to audiences across India. Leagues help expose young talent to international players and create a larger talent pool to represent India internationally and win more competitions.”
Lin Laishram, Co-owner, Prithviraj Yodhas, added, “Archery taught me so much, it gave me discipline, patience, and perseverance. Even though I had to leave competitive archery early, my love for the sport never went away. Now, to come back as a team owner and support young archers is a dream come true. I hope we can inspire more people, especially young girls, to pick up the bow and arrow and experience the joy of this sport.”
Dr. Vikas Garg, Co-owner of Prithviraj Yodhas and Chairman, Ebix Group, said, “The launch of the Archery Premier League represents a transformative milestone for Indian archery—turning it into a dynamic, fan-friendly sport that promotes talent cultivation at all levels. As co-owners of the Prithviraj Yodhas, we are dedicated to fostering an environment that champions excellence, innovation, and India’s rich sporting traditions.”
The Archery Premier League 2025 will showcase elite Indian archers including Deepika Kumari, Dhiraj Bommadevara, Jyothi Surekha Vennam, and Rishabh Yadav, alongside international champions like Mike Schloesser (Netherlands), Andrea Becerra (Mexico), and Brady Ellison (USA). Six franchises will battle it out in a double round-robin format, followed by semifinals and finals. Each team will field eight archers (four men and four women), ensuring balanced competition and gender representation.
For Ebix, the association underscores its growing commitment to India’s sporting ecosystem, having supported marquee leagues across cricket, volleyball, and tennis.
The APL is organized by the Archery Association of India (AAI) under the leadership of AAI President Arjun Munda and Secretary Virendra Sachdeva, with support from World Archery, World Archery Asia, and the Sports Ministry of India.
