Fifteen-second shot clock at Archery Premier League helps Indian archers handle pressure

Indian archers have learned to shoot better under pressure after the Archery Premier League reduced the time allowed per arrow from 20 seconds to 15 seconds. Founder Anil Kamineni and the federation developed this format last year in Delhi and held this year in Hyderabad to make situations harder and help archers toughen up.

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Recurve bronze medallist Neeraj Chauhan explains that 15 seconds leaves no time to dwell on a previous arrow or overthink during the holding phase. Compound double gold medallist Sahil Jadhav notes that the quick-fire format prevents players from feeling pressure or doubtful thoughts. Meanwhile, coach Praful Dange and father Anil Mohod point out that archer Kumkum adapted well to the quick pace despite leaving her shots for the final seconds.

Context

Shot clocks are increasingly used across various sports to speed up the pace of play and eliminate deliberate delays. In archery, reducing the time limit forces athletes to rely on instinct and maintain active focus rather than overanalyzing their technique.