Mexican archer Samuel Molina Núñez secured a gold medal in the men’s open recurve division at the 2026 World Para Archery Series, held from September 5 to September 9 in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India. In a tense final against Indonesia’s Kholidin, Molina overcame an early deficit by hitting a perfect 10 in a sudden-death shoot-off.
A Sudden-Death Masterclass in Ahmedabad
The tournament brought together elite adaptive archers from around the globe to the venue in Ahmedabad. For Molina, a two-time Paralympian representing Mexico, the path to the top of the podium demanded tactical resilience and composure under pressure against a formidable international field.
The Fight Back from an Early Deficit
The gold-medal match unfolded in dramatic fashion. According to the reported accounts, Molina dropped the opening set to fall behind early. Kholidin extended his lead to 3–1 after the second set, putting the pressure squarely on the Mexican competitor. Molina rallied in the third set to level the score at 3–3, setting up a fierce battle down the stretch. The subsequent two sets ended in a 5–5 tie, forcing the final outcome to be decided by a single arrow shoot-off.
Clinching Career-First World Series Gold
In the high-stakes tiebreaker, Kholidin registered an 8 on the target. Stepping up to the shooting line, Molina delivered a flawless 10-point shot to capture the gold medal. The victory marks the first time in his career that Molina has claimed a title at a World Series event.
Building Blocks of a Championship Journey
Following the competition, Sandra Loza Tenorio, Molina’s coach, emphasized the depth of effort behind the performance. She also expressed gratitude to the National Commission for Physical Culture and Sport (Conade), Archery Mexico, and the Sports Commission for backing the sports project.
Eyes on Lima 2027 Quotas
Currently holding the top position in the 2026 continental rankings according to Conade, Molina used the international test in Ahmedabad as direct preparation for the upcoming Parapanamerican Championship. That tournament will distribute qualifying quotas for the Lima 2027 Parapanamerican Games.
Molina’s next major test arrives at the Parapanamerican Championship, where he aims to secure his qualification for the multi-sport continental gathering in Lima.
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