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Preview: Archery returns to South American Youth Games with expanded field in Panama

12 April 2026

Panama

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A group of archers looking at where their arrows landed on the targets.

Archery returns to the South American Youth Games with more than double the participation since its debut edition in Rosario, Argentina, in 2022, highlighting the sport’s steady growth across the continent.

A total of 67 athletes from 12 countries – 35 men and 32 women – will compete across recurve and compound divisions, with several emerging talents aiming to make their mark in Panama.

Competition will take place from 15 to 18 April at the Irving Saladino Sports Complex in Panama City, marking the first time an international archery event has been hosted at the venue.

Chile and Colombia lead the entries with eight archers each, while host nation Panama fields seven.

Athletes will compete at distances of 60 metres in recurve and 50 metres in compound, with 30 medals, including 10 gold, to be awarded across individual, team and mixed team events. The expanded field reflects growing investment and interest in archery across South America as the discipline strengthens its presence within the Games.

The Panama 2026 South American Youth Games runs from 12 to 25 April, bringing together more than 2000 athletes from 15 nations. Open to competitors aged 14 to 17 (for archery, this corresponds to the under-18 category), the event serves as a key development platform for emerging talent and a pathway towards future international competition.

With the Youth Olympic Games set to take place later this year in Dakar, performances in Panama will provide an early indication of athletes emerging as contenders on the global stage.

Key information

What’s happening? The fourth South American Youth Games on 12-25 April in Panama. Archery takes place on 15-18 April at the archery range within the Irving Saladino Sports Complex in Juan Díaz – marking the venue’s first time hosting an international archery event.

What’s at stake? Titles in individual, team and mixed team events.

Who’s competing? A total of 67 archers representing 12 nations: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, Venezuela and host Panama.

What’s the story? Four years after its debut at the Rosario 2022 South American Youth Games, the archery field has more than doubled in size, growing from 27 to 67 athletes.