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Colombia makes strong start as top seeds confirmed at Para South American Games in Valledupar

14 July 2026

Valledupar, Colombia

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Rising home star Maira Alejandra Mosquera Rocha shot a career-best 598 to secure the top seed in the recurve women’s event at the Para South American Games in Valledupar, Colombia.

The 20-year-old, who claimed silver at the first stage of the 2025 Americas Para Archery Cup in Morelia, finished 26 points clear of Peru’s Daniela Cecilia Campos Marzano, the highest-ranked recurve woman in the field, who scored 572. Fabiola Dergovics followed closely in third with 571.

Colombia also led the recurve men’s qualification through world number 11 and local favourite Héctor Julio Ramírez, who shot 628 over the 72-arrow round. The Santiago 2023 Parapan American Games bronze medallist lived up to his top billing, finishing 37 points clear of the field with 15 10s and four Xs.

The hosts also celebrated success in the recurve mixed team qualification as Mosquera Rocha and Julio Ramírez combined for 1226 points to set a new Americas record and secure the top seed.

There was further success for the hosts in compound men, where Cristian David Correa Alvaran topped qualification with 672 points.

The Santiago 2022 Pan and Para Pan American Championships bronze medallist recorded 21 tens and 12 Xs to edge Brazil’s world number 10 Reinaldo Vagner Charao Ferreira by one point.

Former world number one Jane Karla Gogel topped the compound women’s qualification with 677, that included 13 Xs. Brazil’s world number 10 Helena Nunes de Moraes secured the third seed with 648.

Gogel, who became the first female para archer to break 590 points in a 60-arrow, 18-metre qualification round at Nimes 2022, and Charao Ferreira were the only Brazilian para archers to compete at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games.

Karla Gogel and de Moraes also rewrote the continental record books, combining for 1325 points to top the compound women's doubles qualification and establish a new Americas record.

Brazil also topped both W1 qualification events. World number eight Eugenio Santana Franco led the men's field with 616, while Juliana Cristina Ferreira Da Silva, also ranked eighth, claimed the top seed in the women's event with 544.

At 66, Santana Franco showed he remains a force in the W1 category, continuing his pursuit of a return to peak form since winning individual gold at the Santiago 2023 Parapan American Games.

Their teammate Gustavo Mendes De Araujo, the first visually impaired champion crowned at the 2022 Pan American Championships, led the VI category with 301 points.

Competition continues on Tuesday with the team finals and individual eliminations.