Reigning champions return as South American Youth and Masters Championships head to Daule
The Daule 2026 South American Youth and Masters Open Championships open in Daule, Ecuador, on Wednesday, with 16 medallists from Santiago 2025 among the 112 archers entered.
The event features under-15, under-18, under-21 and 50+ categories in recurve, compound and barebow. Open titles, which include club entries and archers from outside the continent, will be decided on Friday, followed by the South American Championships medal events over the weekend.
Host nation Ecuador has the largest contingent, with 58 archers, followed by Chile with 16 and Brazil with 11. In total, 13 nations are represented.
Chile will be looking to repeat its success in Santiago last year, where it topped the medal table with 47 medals, including 20 golds. Argentina, which finished second with 33 medals, is absent this year, guaranteeing new champions in several divisions.
Among the returning champions is Chile’s Aurora Olea Prado, who won both the Open and South American Championships titles in compound under-21 women in 2025. Teammate Catalina Victoria Torres Leiva, who claimed silver in both events in the under-18 category, moves up to under-21.
Chile’s Oscar Omar Enrique Verdugo Viñales returns in compound under-18 men after winning both individual titles in Santiago, as well as mixed team gold alongside Torres Leiva.
In recurve, Chile’s Ángel Moises Vega Valdivia returns as the Open under-21 men’s champion. Ecuador’s Juan Pablo Peralta Alvarez, who won four medals in Santiago, and Brazil’s Eduardo Diamantino, a winner in the recurve under-21 mixed team event, are among the other contenders.
In the masters categories, Colombia’s Gildardo Anselmo Fuentes returns after winning the Open recurve 50+ men’s title in Santiago. With Argentina absent, both South American Championships recurve 50+ divisions will have new champions.
Key information
What’s happening? The Daule 2026 South American Youth and Masters Open Championships take place from 14-18 October in Daule, Ecuador, at the Makarios Archery Sports Club.
What’s at stake? Open and South American Championships titles across U15, U18, U21 and 50+ categories in recurve, compound and barebow.
Who’s competing? A total of 112 archers representing 13 nations: Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Great Britain, India, Mexico, Morocco, Peru, Trinidad and Tobago, and the USA.
What’s the story? Reigning champions Aurora Olea Prado and Oscar Omar Enrique Verdugo Viñales lead a strong Chilean contingent looking to repeat last year’s medal-table finish. Argentina, runner-up in the 2025 medal table, is absent this year, guaranteeing new champions in several divisions.
Schedule
- Thursday 15 October: Qualifying
- Friday 16 October: Open eliminations and finals
- Saturday 17 October: Championships eliminations
- Sunday 18 October: Championships finals
How to watch
Live scores will be available throughout the week on the World Archery website, along with coverage across World Archery’s digital platforms.
The event will not be livestreamed.
Who’s competing?
Notable returning medallists and contenders include:
- Recurve under-18 women: Sabrina Nicolette NuÑez Castillo, Chile (2025 under-15 gold); Alejandra Ignacia Bravo Peña, Chile (2025 under-15 silver)
- Recurve under-21 men: Juan Pablo Peralta Alvarez, Ecuador (2025 bronze); Eduardo Diamantino, Brazil (2025 mixed team gold)
- Compound under-18 men: Oscar Omar Enrique Verdugo Viñales, Chile (reigning champion)
- Compound under-21 men: Henrique Mezzacapa, Brazil (2025 U18 silver)
- Compound under-21 women: Aurora Olea Prado, Chile (reigning champion); Catalina Victoria Torres Leiva, Chile (2025 under-18 silver); Blanca Maritza Rodrigo Bueno, Ecuador (2025 silver medallist)
Competition at the Daule 2026 South American Youth and Masters Open Championships begins with qualifying on Thursday.
