Bollywood actor Randeep Hooda and his wife, Lin Laishram, have become the co-owners of Delhi's Prithviraj Yodhas in the Archery Premier League (APL). The inaugural Archery Premier League kicked off on October 2, 2025, in New Delhi and will be a 10-day event. Dr. Vikas Garg is also a co-owner of the team.
For Lin Laishram, co-owning Prithviraj Yodhas marks a return to the sport that was a significant part of her childhood. Inspired by her father, who was President of the Archery Association (Manipur), she began archery at the age of 10. Lin honed her skills at the Tata Archery Academy, where she won multiple medals, including the Junior National Championship in 1998. Although an injury led her to leave competitive archery, her passion for the sport remained.
Randeep Hooda expressed his excitement about co-owning the team with Lin, emphasizing the importance of supporting talented athletes and promoting archery to a wider audience across India. He believes that leagues like the APL provide young talents with exposure to international players, creating a larger pool of talent to represent India on the global stage.
Lin Laishram shared that archery taught her discipline, patience, and perseverance. She added that returning to the sport as a team owner and supporting young archers is a dream come true. She hopes to inspire more people, especially young girls, to take up archery and experience the joy of the sport.
The Prithviraj Yodhas boast a roster of elite international talent, including World No. 1 compound archer Andrea Becerra and World No. 6 recurve archer Matias Grande. Indian stars such as Abhishek Verma and young talent Priyansh add to the team's competitive strength.
The Ebix Group has partnered with the Prithviraj Yodhas as the title sponsor for the inaugural Archery Premier League. The collaboration aims to elevate archery's profile and support athlete development, combining corporate backing with star power, with Hooda and Laishram also acting as brand ambassadors. This partnership signifies a major corporate push into the sport's new professional era, with the goal of inspiring a new generation of athletes. Ebix Group's sponsorship includes jersey branding and VIP access. Dr. Vikas Garg, Chairman of Ebix Group, emphasized the alignment with values of precision and resilience.
The Archery Premier League aims to provide a high-profile platform for Indian archers to compete with international stars, increasing the sport's popularity and competitive standards. It seeks to build a stronger talent pipeline for future global championships and the Olympics.
