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Mexico retains recurve crown, El Salvador shines in compound in Santo Domingo

28 July 2026

Santo Domingo

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It was another dominant display from Mexico at the XXV Juegos Centroamericanos y del Caribe Santo Domingo 2026, as the nation successfully defended all three recurve team titles. Meanwhile, El Salvador stole the spotlight in compound, 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 Trujillo joined Angela Ruiz Rosales and Ana Paula Vázquez Flores 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.

El Salvador, led by flag bearer Roberto Hernandez alongside Douglas Vladimir Nolasco and Miguel Angel Veliz, denied Mexico the men's compound team title with a composed 237-233 victory. After both teams opened with identical scores of 59, El Salvador created separation in the third end, opening a five-point advantage that proved decisive despite Mexico finishing with a perfect 60.

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 Maya Becerra Arizaga, Ana Sofía Hernández and Dafne Quintero 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 Sara 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 Fraiber Alberto Rodriguez Mercado. Venezuela secured the final podium place after shooting the closest arrow.

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