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

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 opening 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. Argentina’s Fabiola Dergovics followed closely in third with 571.

Colombia also topped recurve men’s qualification through world number 11 and local favourite Héctor Julio Ramirez, who shot 628 over the 72-arrow round. The Santiago 2023 Parapan American Games bronze medallist lived up to his billing, finishing 37 points clear of the field with 15 10s and four Xs – the X-ring being the central zone within the 10-ring used to break ties in qualification.

The hosts also celebrated success in the recurve mixed team event, where Mosquera Rocha and Ramirez combined for 1226 points to set a new Americas record and secure the top seed.

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

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

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

Gogel became the first female para archer to break 590 points for a 60-arrow 18-metre qualifying round at Nimes 2022.

She and De Moraes also rewrote the continental record books, combining for 1325 points to top 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 competition with 544.

All four – Santana Franco, Ferreira Da Silva, Karla Gogel and Charão Ferreira – were among the five Brazilian para archers who competed at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games.

At 66, Santana Franco showed he remains a force in the W1 category as he continues his pursuit of a return to peak form after winning individual gold at Santiago 2023.

Their teammate Gustavo Mendes De Araujo, the first visually impaired champion crowned at Santiago 2022, topped the VI1 qualification with 301.

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

Images courtesy of Americas Paralympic Committee.