Boyacá Shines at Colombia’s National Interleagues Archery Championship

By Daniel Richardson, Editor-in-Chief

April 27, 2026 | Bogotá, Colombia

BOGOTÁ — The Liga de Tiro con Arco de Boyacá delivered one of its strongest performances in recent memory at the I Campeonato Nacional Interligas, Colombia’s premier team archery competition, which concluded Sunday in Bogotá. While powerhouses like Antioquia and Valle del Cauca dominated the podium, Boyacá’s athletes secured critical placements, signaling the department’s growing competitiveness in a sport that has seen explosive growth across the country.

The Championship by the Numbers

The tournament, held April 24–26 at Bogotá’s High-Performance Archery Center, featured 13 regional leagues competing across three disciplines: recurve men’s, recurve women’s, and compound men’s. A total of 156 archers represented their departments in team rounds, with Antioquia sweeping two gold medals and Valle del Cauca claiming one. Boyacá, however, emerged as the tournament’s most improved squad, finishing with multiple top-five placements and individual breakthroughs.

Boyacá’s Standout Performances

While the league fell short of the podium in the team events, its archers delivered in individual and relay formats. Key highlights included:

• Recurve Men’s Team: Boyacá finished fourth, narrowly missing bronze to Meta. The squad, led by veteran archer Carlos Andrés Rojas and rising talent Juan Pablo Vargas, posted a combined score of 1,892 points—just 12 points behind Meta’s bronze-winning total. Rojas, a two-time national champion, anchored the team with a 668-point individual round, the highest score of the tournament for Boyacá.
• Recurve Women’s Team: The women’s squad, featuring Laura Valentina Martínez and Sofía Mendoza, secured fifth place with a cumulative 1,789 points. Martínez, competing in her third national championship, improved her personal best by 23 points from the 2025 season.
• Compound Men’s Team: Boyacá’s compound archers, including Jorge Eliécer Torres and Daniel Felipe Ruiz, finished sixth in a tightly contested field. Torres, the department’s top-ranked compound archer, shot a 702 in the qualifying round, placing him 11th individually.

Why This Tournament Matters

The Campeonato Nacional Interligas serves as Colombia’s primary talent pipeline for international competitions, including the Pan American Games and World Archery Championships. For Boyacá, a department with a population of just over 1.2 million, outperforming larger regions like Bogotá and Santander is a testament to its investment in grassroots development.

“This isn’t just about medals—it’s about proving Boyacá belongs at the table with Colombia’s archery elite,” said María Fernanda López, president of the Liga de Tiro con Arco de Boyacá, in a post-tournament statement. “Our athletes trained through the offseason with limited resources, and their results reflect that dedication.”

Antioquia and Valle del Cauca Dominate Podium

Antioquia, Colombia’s most decorated archery region, lived up to its reputation by winning gold in both the recurve men’s and recurve women’s team events. The men’s squad, featuring Estiven Ramírez, Víctor Gómez, and Jerónimo Ruiz, defeated Valle del Cauca 5–3 in a thrilling final. Antioquia’s women, led by Ana María Rendón—a 2024 Olympian—overcame Valle del Cauca 5–4 in a shoot-off.

Valle del Cauca, meanwhile, claimed gold in the compound men’s category, with Daniel Muñoz and Alejandro Torres delivering clutch performances. The department also secured silver in the recurve men’s and women’s events, underscoring its status as Antioquia’s chief rival.

Key Takeaways from Bogotá

• Boyacá’s Rise: The department’s fourth-place finish in recurve men’s and fifth in recurve women’s marks its best performance since 2022. With Martínez and Vargas both under 20, Boyacá’s future looks bright.
• Antioquia’s Dynasty: The region now has 12 national team titles in the past five years, with Rendón and Ramírez emerging as national icons.
• Valle del Cauca’s Consistency: The department has medaled in every Interligas championship since 2018, thanks to a robust youth academy.
• Meta’s Breakthrough: The department won its first-ever bronze in recurve men’s, led by Santiago Cruz, a 19-year-old who shot a 672 in qualifications.

What’s Next for Colombian Archery

The next major event on Colombia’s archery calendar is the Copa Colombia, scheduled for June 12–15 in Medellín. The tournament will serve as the final qualifier for the 2026 World Archery Championships in Berlin, where Colombia aims to send its largest delegation in history. Boyacá’s López confirmed that the league will prioritize funding for its top athletes to compete in Medellín, with an eye on securing international berths.

For fans, the Liga de Tiro con Arco de Boyacá will host an open training session on May 10 in Tunja, offering a chance to see the department’s rising stars in action. Details are available on the league’s Instagram page.

How to Follow the Action

For real-time updates on Colombian archery, follow these official sources:

• World Archery Colombia (national governing body)
• Liga de Tiro con Arco de Boyacá (Boyacá league)
• Indeportes Boyacá (departmental sports authority)

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