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Marcus D’Almeida, Sara Lopez lead qualification at South American Games

22 September 2026

Rosario (Argentina)

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World number one Marcus D’Almeida and defending champion Sara Lopez set the pace on the opening day of archery at the XIII South American Games Santa Fe 2026, as Brazil and Colombia shared the top seeds across the qualification rounds in Rosario on Tuesday.

D’Almeida led the recurve men’s field with 671, with Colombia’s Jorge Enriquez close behind on 667. Chile’s Andres Gallardo completed the top three with 657.

The women’s recurve qualification was even closer, with Brazil’s Ana Luiza Sliachticas Caetano and Colombia’s four-time Olympian Ana Maria Rendon both finishing on 639. Caetano took the top seed after edging Rendon on X-count, while Argentina’s Alma Fiorella Pueyo Lopez finished third with 638.

Colombia dominated the compound qualification, led by Pablo Gomez Zuluaga, who shot 705 to break the previously held South American Games record of 704 (pending ratification).

His teammate Jagdeep Singh Mejia finished second on 695, with Venezuela’s Fraiber Alberto Rodriguez Mercado third on 690.

There was another record for Colombia in the compound women’s team event, where Sara Lopez, Alejandra Usquiano and Mariana Rodriguez combined for 2084.

The trio improved the previous South American Games record of 2081 set by Colombia at Asunción 2022, with the new mark pending ratification.

Lopez also topped the individual qualification with 701, ahead of Usquiano on 696 and Rodriguez on 687, giving Colombia a clean sweep of the top three.

Brazil showed its strength across the team events, taking the top seeds in the men’s, women’s and mixed recurve events, while Colombia led the way in compound.

The mixed team quarterfinals are also set, with the team eliminations and finals taking centre stage on Wednesday.