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Preview: Promising names set to feature in record participation at continental Youth Games 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 youth talents aiming to make a mark in Panama.

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

Chile and Colombia lead the entries with eight archers each, while host country Panama will field 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 foothold within the Games.

The IV South American Youth Games Panama 2026 will run from 12-25 April, bringing together more than 2,000 athletes from the 15 member nations of the South American Sports Organisation (ODESUR). 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 toward 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 the athletes emerging as contenders on the global stage.

A row of archers standing on the shooting line preparing to shoot arrows at targets.

Key information

What’s happening? The IV South American Youth Games Panama 2026 will take place from 12-25 April, with archery competition scheduled for 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 making its debut at the third South American Youth Games in Rosario, the archery field has more than doubled in size, growing from 27 to 67 athletes.