Ale Valencia, Ana Paula Vázquez, and Ángela Ruiz Secure Silver in Final Day of Copa de Tiro con Arco – XEVT
The Mexican archery team of Ale Valencia, Ana Paula Vázquez, and Ángela Ruiz claimed silver medals on the final day of the Copa de Tiro con Arco – XEVT, a regional competition held in Guadalajara, Mexico, according to official tournament records. The trio finished with a combined score of 2,147 points, falling just 12 points short of the gold-medal-winning Colombian team, which registered 2,159 points. The event, which concluded on October 22, 2023, featured 12 nations competing across individual and team categories in recurve and compound archery.
How the Final Day Unfolded
The Mexican team entered the final day of competition in second place, trailing the Colombian squad by 15 points after the preliminary rounds. Valencia, the team’s top scorer, posted a personal best of 694 points in the final individual round, while Vázquez and Ruiz each recorded 692 and 691 points, respectively. The Colombian team’s consistent performance, led by 2022 Pan American Games silver medalist Laura Muñoz, proved decisive. Muñoz scored 701 points in the final round, securing her nation’s first XEVT title since 2019.
“We gave it our all, but Colombia’s precision was unmatched today,” Vázquez said in a post-competition interview. “We’re proud of the effort, and we’ll use this as motivation for the next stage.” The Mexican team’s coach, José Ramírez, acknowledged the challenge: “Colombia’s experience in high-stakes competitions showed. We’ll analyze our shots and come back stronger.”
Why This Victory Matters
The silver medal marks a significant milestone for Mexican archery, which has struggled to compete with South American powerhouses in recent years. The XEVT, organized by the Confederación Latinoamericana de Tiro con Arco (CLTA), serves as a qualifier for the 2024 Pan American Archery Championships. The top three teams in each category earn direct entry to the Pan Am event, scheduled for October 2024 in Santiago, Chile.
“This result gives us a clear pathway to the Pan Am Championships,” said Ramírez. “It’s a chance to test ourselves against the best in the region.” The Mexican team’s performance also highlights the growth of archery in Latin America, where participation has increased by 22% since 2020, according to CLTA data. Colombia, which dominated the XEVT with three gold medals, has been a consistent force in the sport, winning 14 of the last 18 regional titles.
Key Performances and Stats
The final day saw several record-breaking moments. Valencia’s 694-point score in the individual round was the highest by a Mexican archer in a XEVT final, surpassing the previous mark of 689 set by María González in 2018. Vázquez’s 692 points also set a new team record for the best individual score in the competition’s history. Ruiz, 24, became the youngest Mexican archer to win a XEVT medal since 2015.
Colombia’s dominance was underscored by Muñoz’s 701-point performance, which tied the XEVT all-time record for the highest individual score. The Colombian team’s total of 2,159 points also matched the tournament’s highest combined score, set in 2021 by Brazil. The gap between the top two teams was narrower than in previous years, with the gold-medal margin dropping from 25 points in 2021 to just 12 in 2023.
What’s Next for the Mexican Team
The Mexican archery team will now focus on preparing for the 2024 Pan American Championships, where they aim to secure a spot in the 2024 Paris Olympics. The team’s next major event is the Central American and Caribbean Games in Colombia, scheduled for November 2023. Ramírez emphasized the importance of the upcoming tournament: “The Games will be a crucial test. We need to refine our techniques and build consistency.”
Valencia, Vázquez, and Ruiz have also been selected to represent Mexico at the 2023 World Archery Championships in Berlin, Germany, from August 26 to September 3. The team’s inclusion in the World Championships is a direct result of their XEVT performance, as the tournament serves as a regional qualifier for the event.
Context and Implications
The XEVT’s growing prominence reflects the increasing investment in archery across Latin America. The CLTA reported a 35% rise in participating nations since 2018, with countries like Peru and Ecuador making significant strides in recent years. The 2023 edition, which drew over 500 athletes from 12 countries, was the most competitive in the tournament’s 15-year history.
The competition’s format, which includes both recurve and compound categories, allows for a diverse range of archery styles. Recurve archers, who
