Puebla, Mexico – The Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla (BUAP) archery team delivered a standout performance at the recent international archery competition held in Guadalajara, securing multiple podium finishes and reinforcing Mexico’s growing presence in the sport on the global stage. Competing against athletes from over 15 nations, BUAP archers demonstrated precision, consistency, and mental fortitude to claim medals across individual and team events, marking one of the university’s most successful outings in international archery to date.
The competition, officially sanctioned by World Archery Americas and hosted at the Centro de Alto Rendimiento in Jalisco, featured recurve and compound divisions across junior, senior, and master categories. BUAP entered a contingent of 12 athletes, selected through rigorous internal trials following months of training at the university’s high-performance archery center in Puebla. Their preparation included biomechanical analysis, psychological conditioning, and regular simulation matches under competition-like conditions.
In the women’s recurve individual event, BUAP’s Ana Sofía Ramírez clinched the bronze medal after a tightly contested semifinal loss to Colombia’s Valentina Rodríguez, 6-4 in set points. Ramírez rebounded strongly in the bronze medal match, defeating Chile’s Isabella Valdés 7-1 with three consecutive perfect tens in the final end. Her performance was highlighted by a tournament-best average score of 8.9 points per arrow during the qualification round, where she placed fourth overall with 642 points out of a possible 720.
“It’s not just about hitting the center,” Ramírez said in a post-match interview with the university’s sports media office. “It’s about repeating that shot under pressure, knowing your preparation has brought you here. We’ve worked too long to let nerves decide the outcome.” Her comments reflected a broader team emphasis on process over outcome, a philosophy instilled by head coach Marco Hernández, a former national team member with over two decades of international coaching experience.
On the men’s side, Diego Castillo delivered a breakthrough performance, finishing fifth in the recurve individual category after a hard-fought quarterfinal match against Argentina’s Tomás Ruiz, which he lost 6-2. Castillo had entered the elimination rounds as the ninth seed following a qualification score of 638, his personal best in an international event. His run included a dramatic comeback victory over Peru’s Luis Ortega in the Round of 16, where he won four consecutive sets after trailing 2-0.
The true highlight for BUAP came in the team events. Both the women’s and mixed recurve teams secured silver medals, narrowly missing gold in matches decided by a single arrow. The women’s team — comprising Ramírez, Valentina Mendoza, and Gabriela Cruz — fell to Cuba in the gold medal match after a 5-4 loss in a shoot-off, having tied 5-5 after four sets. Each team member had averaged over 8.7 points per arrow during the team qualification round, where BUAP posted a cumulative score of 1,891, second only to the host nation’s squad.
In the mixed team event, Ramírez paired with Castillo to push Cuba to the limit before losing 5-3 in the final. Their journey to the final included victories over Chile and Paraguay, showcasing remarkable synergy under pressure. Coach Hernández praised their communication and timing, noting that mixed team success often hinges on non-verbal cues and synchronized breathing patterns developed through months of joint training.
BUAP’s compound archers also contributed to the medal tally. In the women’s compound individual event, Mariana López finished fourth after a semifinal loss to Ecuador’s Diana Salazar, 144-140. She then lost the bronze medal match to Venezuela’s Gabriella Suárez by a single point, 145-144. López had led the qualification round with a score of 698 out of 720, a new personal record and the highest score recorded by any Mexican female compound archer in an international event this year.
The men’s compound team, featuring López’s brother Eduardo López alongside Jorge Méndez and Carlos Ríos, secured a bronze medal after defeating Panama 227-221 in the third-place match. Their performance was marked by exceptional consistency, with all three archers scoring above 114 points in each end during the medal rounds.
BUAP earned four medals — two silvers and two bronzes — placing third in the team standings behind Cuba, and Ecuador. The result represents the university’s best-ever finish in a World Archery Americas-sanctioned event and underscores the effectiveness of its sports development program, which integrates academic support with elite athletic training.
“This isn’t just about medals,” Hernández said during the award ceremony. “It’s about building a culture where student-athletes believe they can compete with anyone, anywhere. These kids balanced exams, travel, and intense training. What they’ve shown is that excellence in archery — like in life — comes from daily commitment, not just talent.”
The performance has drawn attention from national selectors, with Ramírez and Castillo both receiving invitations to attend the upcoming national team training camp in Mexico City later this month. The camp will serve as preparation for the 2025 Central American and Caribbean Games, where archery is expected to be a medal-contending sport for Mexico.
World Archery Americas confirmed the competition results via its official website, noting that over 200 athletes participated across all divisions. The governing body praised the event’s organization and the high level of competition, particularly in the recurve categories, where the top eight finishers were separated by less than 15 points in qualification.
For BUAP, the success in Guadalajara builds on a steady trajectory of improvement. Over the past three years, the university’s archery program has increased its athlete retention rate by 40% and doubled its competition travel budget through partnerships with local sports authorities and private sponsors. Academic advisors report that student-athletes in the program maintain an average GPA of 3.4, challenging the misconception that athletic excellence comes at the expense of academic rigor.
Looking ahead, Hernández outlined plans to expand the program’s reach through outreach initiatives in public schools across Puebla state, aiming to identify talent early and provide access to equipment and coaching. “Archery teaches focus, discipline, and resilience,” he said. “Those aren’t just sports skills. They’re life skills. And we want more young people in our community to have the chance to develop them.”
As the team returns to Puebla, their focus shifts to recovery, academic reintegration, and preparation for the national university championships scheduled for early next month. With confidence high and momentum building, BUAP archers aim to translate their international success into domestic dominance — one arrow at a time.
For continued coverage of collegiate sports achievements and athlete journeys across Mexico, stay tuned to Archysport. We’ll keep you updated on the next checkpoint: the BUAP team’s performance at the Nacional Universiada 2025, where they will look to defend their title and build on this international breakthrough.
What are your thoughts on BUAP’s rising archery program? Share your insights in the comments below, and don’t forget to share this story with fellow sports enthusiasts who appreciate the quiet precision and intense focus of competitive archery.
