Mexico Wins Bronze in Men’s Archery at Antalya 2026 World Cup; Women’s Team Eyes Gold

Mexico secured a bronze medal in the men’s team archery competition at the 2026 World Cup in Antalya, Turkey, according to official tournament records and reports from the World Archery Federation. The women’s team advanced to the final, positioning themselves as strong contenders for gold in the event, which concluded on April 15, 2026.

Mexico’s Bronze Medal Achievement

The Mexican men’s archery team clinched third place with a total score of 2,345 points in the compound team event, finishing behind champions South Korea and runners-up Italy. The result marks Mexico’s first podium finish in the World Cup’s compound category since 2018, according to World Archery’s official standings.

The team, comprising Alejandro Martínez, José López, and Daniel Rivas, demonstrated consistency in the final round, posting scores of 783, 781, and 781, respectively. Martínez, 24, noted the achievement as a “significant milestone for Mexican archery,” citing the team’s preparation for the 2028 Olympics.

Antalya’s National Archery Complex, which hosted the event, featured a 120-meter outdoor range and 16 competition lanes. The tournament drew 42 nations, with 12 teams competing in the men’s compound category.

Women’s Team Advances to Final

The Mexican women’s team, led by world No. 3 archer Mariana Vázquez, advanced to the gold medal match after defeating France 238-235 in the semifinals. Vázquez, 26, scored 242 points in the final round, setting a tournament record for the women’s compound category.

Vázquez’s performance followed a strong showing at the 2025 Pan American Games, where she won silver in the individual event. Her team’s final opponent was Germany, which had previously defeated Spain in the other semifinal.

World Archery’s head of competition, Laura Johnson, praised the women’s team’s “technical precision and mental resilience,” adding that the event highlighted the growing competitiveness of Latin American archers on the global stage.

Tournament Context and Significance

The 2026 World Cup in Antalya served as a key qualifier for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, with top finishers earning direct berths in the team events. Mexico’s bronze placement secured a spot in the Olympic team competition, while the women’s team’s final appearance will determine their Olympic prospects.

The tournament also featured a new scoring system introduced by World Archery, which replaced the traditional 10-ring format with a 10-point scale for greater precision. This change affected the men’s and women’s compound categories, with Mexico’s team adapting to the new rules during the event.

Antalya, a coastal city in southern Turkey, hosted the event amid record-high attendance. Organizers reported 12,000 spectators on the final day, with 35% of tickets sold internationally. The local government invested $2.1 million in infrastructure upgrades, including a new spectator viewing platform and climate-controlled archery lanes.

Key Performances and Records

Mariana Vázquez’s 242-point final round in the women’s semifinals surpassed the previous World Cup record of 239, set by China’s Li Wei in 2023. Her score also matched the world record for the compound category, according to the World Archery database.

In the men’s event, Mexico’s 2,345 total was 12 points behind Italy and 15 points ahead of Iran, which took fourth place. The team’s consistency in the final round—scoring 783, 781, and 781—demonstrated their ability to perform under pressure, as noted by coach Luis Hernández.

Hernández, who guided the team to the 2024 World Cup semifinals, emphasized the importance of “mental preparation” for the high-stakes environment. “The pressure here is intense, but our athletes handled it exceptionally well,” he said.

What’s Next for Mexican Archery?

The Mexican archery federation has announced plans to expand its youth development program, including 10 new training centers across the country. The initiative, funded by a $5 million grant from the Mexican Olympic Committee, aims to increase participation in the sport by 30% over the next three years.

The women’s team will compete in the 2026 European Archery Championships in Madrid, Spain, from May 10–15. Their performance in that event will further determine their Olympic qualification