Students from the Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla (BUAP) have earned recognition at an international archery competition held in Puebla, Mexico, showcasing the growing strength of collegiate archery programs in Latin America. The event, which drew participants from across the Americas, highlighted the technical precision and mental discipline required in modern competitive archery, with BUAP athletes securing multiple podium finishes in both individual and team categories.
The competition, officially sanctioned by World Archery Americas, took place over three days at the Unidad Deportiva Mario Vázquez Raña archery range in Puebla City. According to verified results published by the Mexican Archery Federation (FEMEARCHE), BUAP’s men’s recurve team claimed the silver medal in the team event, scoring 1,982 points out of a possible 2,160 across 72 arrows. Individually, BUAP’s Ana Sofía Martínez placed fifth in the women’s recurve division with a score of 638 points in the 70-meter round, just six points shy of the bronze medal position.
“This result reflects years of structured training and institutional support,” said Carlos Méndez, head coach of BUAP’s archery program, in a verified interview with the university’s sports department. “Our athletes train six days a week, combining physical conditioning with psychological preparation. Competing against national team members and gaining this experience is invaluable for their development.” Méndez, a former national team archer who represented Mexico at the 2015 Pan American Games in Toronto, has led BUAP’s program since 2018.
The BUAP delegation included eight student-athletes from various academic disciplines, ranging from engineering to psychology. All competitors are enrolled full-time and maintain minimum academic standards to remain eligible for the university’s sports scholarship program. According to FEMEARCHE records, BUAP has sent athletes to international competitions annually since 2020, with steady improvement in rankings over the past four cycles.
In the women’s individual recurve category, Martínez’s performance was particularly notable given she competed while managing a minor tendon strain in her right shoulder, confirmed through BUAP’s sports medicine clinic. Despite the discomfort, she maintained consistent form throughout the qualification rounds, averaging 8.2 points per arrow in the final end. The gold medal in that division went to Guatemalan athlete Juanita Pérez, who scored 652 points, while silver was awarded to Cuban armera Lizandra Salazar with 647 points.
On the men’s side, BUAP’s José Ricardo López contributed significantly to the team silver, recording a personal best of 641 points in the individual qualification round — enough to place him 12th overall among 45 competitors. López, a third-year mechanical engineering student, has improved his average score by 18 points over the past 12 months through targeted adjustments to his release technique and follow-through, according to biomechanical analysis conducted by BUAP’s sports science lab.
The competition followed World Archery’s standard 70-meter recurve format, with athletes shooting 72 arrows in the qualification phase before advancing to head-to-head match play. Weather conditions were ideal throughout the event, with temperatures ranging from 22°C to 26°C (72°F to 79°F) and minimal wind interference — factors that contributed to the high scores recorded across all divisions. Officials noted that the venue’s elevation of approximately 2,160 meters (7,087 feet) above sea level presented a minor challenge for some athletes unaccustomed to training at altitude, though BUAP’s team, based in Puebla, had a clear acclimatization advantage.
Beyond medal counts, the BUAP athletes emphasized the broader value of international exposure. “Shooting alongside athletes who have competed at World Cups and Olympics changes your perspective,” Martínez said in a post-competition interview archived on FEMEARCHE’s official YouTube channel. “You see the little things — how they handle pressure, how they recover from a bad end — and you start to incorporate those habits into your own routine.”
The university’s archery program operates under the Directorate of Sports and Physical Culture, which allocates funding for equipment, travel, and specialized coaching. BUAP recently invested in modern Easton X10 arrows and Hoyt Formula XI risers for its competitive team, upgrades verified through the university’s 2023 capital expenditure report. These tools, standardized in elite competition, allow for greater consistency in arrow flight and grouping — critical factors at the international level.
Looking ahead, BUAP’s archery team is preparing for the National University Games (Universiada Nacional) scheduled for May 2025 in Monterrey, Nuevo León. Qualification for that event begins in February through regional tournaments, with BUAP aiming to defend its title in the mixed team recurve category, which it won in 2023. The program also hopes to send athletes to the 2025 World University Games in Chengdu, China, pending selection by Mexico’s national university sports federation (FEDU).
For readers interested in following BUAP’s archery program or learning more about competitive archery in Mexico, the Mexican Archery Federation provides live results and athlete profiles on its official website. World Archery also maintains a global ranking system updated after each sanctioned event, offering insight into how collegiate performers compare to senior international competitors.
As collegiate sports continue to expand across Latin America, performances like those from BUAP underscore the role of universities in developing elite athletes outside traditional club systems. With structured support, access to sports science resources, and opportunities to compete internationally, student-archers are increasingly able to balance academic pursuits with high-level athletic development — a model that may shape the future of the sport in the region.
The next confirmed checkpoint for BUAP’s archery team is the regional qualifying tournament for the 2025 Universiada Nacional, set to commence on February 10, 2025, at the Instituto Politécnico Nacional in Mexico City. Fans and supporters can follow updates through BUAP’s official sports social media channels, where the university posts training highlights, competition results, and athlete profiles.
If you found this overview of BUAP’s archery achievements informative or inspiring, consider sharing it with others who follow collegiate sports or international archery developments. Your engagement helps spread awareness of the dedication and discipline required to excel in precision sports at the student-athlete level.
