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Mexico retains recurve crown as El Salvador shines in compound

28 July 2026

Santo Domingo (Dominican Republic)

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Mexico successfully defended all three recurve team titles at the Santo Domingo 2026 Central American and Caribbean Games, while El Salvador stole the spotlight in compound by winning two team gold medals.

Top-seeded Mexico, featuring Matias Grande, Francisco Padilla and Raul Tadeo Rodríguez Lopez, held off a spirited challenge from Colombia to retain the recurve men’s team crown.

Mexico took the opening set 57-54 before Colombia responded with a 56-55 win in the second. The defending champions edged the third set 56-55, and a tied fourth set was enough to complete a 5-3 victory.

Cuba defeated Guatemala 5-3 to take the bronze medal.

Mexico’s women were equally impressive.

Olympic medallist Alejandra Valencia joined Angela Ruiz and Ana Paula Vázquez as the top-seeded trio defeated Colombia 5-1 to successfully retain their team title, while El Salvador secured bronze with a commanding 6-0 victory over the Dominican Republic.

Mexico then completed the recurve team sweep in the mixed team event. Valencia and Grande defeated Colombia’s Ana Maria Rendon and Santiago Arcila in straight sets, sealing a 6-0 victory.

The Mexicans closed the match in style, shooting four Xs in the final end to underline their dominance.

Larissa Pagan and Hugo Franco secured bronze for Cuba after defeating Panama’s Gisela Cowan Chang and Liborio Saavedra 5-1.

The compound events, however, belonged to El Salvador.

Led by flagbearer Roberto Hernandez alongside Douglas Vladimir Nolasco and Miguel Angel Veliz, the nation denied Mexico the compound men’s team title with a composed 237-233 victory.

For Hernandez, the victory carried special meaning after a difficult outing at the recent Pan American Championships.

“As my teammates know, we had just come from the Pan American team competition, where I shot terribly and apologised to them for my performance,” Hernandez told INDES El Salvador.

“My wife, who is at home supporting me, my parents who came here, and our coaches were fundamental in helping me be at 100% here. There couldn’t be a better gift than dedicating this gold medal to my baby and my wife.”

Guatemala claimed the compound men’s team bronze by edging powerhouse Colombia 234-233. An opening perfect 60 gave Guatemala an early cushion, and although Colombia reduced the gap, the Guatemalans held on after both teams matched scores over the closing ends.

Mexico’s Andrea Becerra, Ana Sofía Hernández entered the compound women’s team final as favourites but were narrowly beaten 223-222 by El Salvador’s Camila Alvarenga, Paola Corado and Sofia Paiz.

Mexico surrendered seven points in the opening end, leaving them with too much ground to recover despite a strong response in the middle stages, as El Salvador held on for a memorable one-point victory.

Colombia’s experienced trio of Sara Lopez, Mariana Rodriguez and Alejandra Usquiano secured the bronze medal with a 231-227 win over Guatemala.

Defending champions Colombia retained the compound mixed team title, with Lopez and Pablo Gomez Zuluaga overcoming Guatemala’s Danica Fránces Barrera Arana and Jose Marcelo Del Cid 156-154.

The compound mixed team bronze medal was decided in a shoot-off after Mexico’s Becerra and Rodrigo Gonzalez De Alba finished tied with Venezuela’s Ana Mendoza and Ana Mendoza and Fraiber Alberto Rodriguez Mercado. Venezuela secured the final podium place with the closest arrow.

Competition in Santo Domingo continues on 29 July with the recurve individual finals.