The province of Santo Domingo secured the team championship at the Copa Cacao de Tiro con Arco 2026, a national development tournament that drew a record-breaking field of more than 100 novice athletes to San Francisco de Macorís. Hosted on the grounds of the Universidad Autónoma de Santo Domingo (UASD) recinto, the competition coincided with celebrations marking the 248th anniversary of the city’s foundation.
Santo Domingo Dominates the Team Standings
Delegations from across the Dominican Republic converged on San Francisco de Macorís to compete in individual and team divisions across various distances and modalities. Santo Domingo claimed the top spot on the podium by accumulating 230 points, comfortably outpacing second-place Santiago, which finished with 150 points. San Pedro de Macorís rounded out the team podium in third place with 136 points. The field also featured competing delegations from Peravia, La Vega, Hermanas Mirabal, and the host province Duarte.
According to tournament records, the gold medalists across the various distances and modalities included Laritza Toribio, Walter Yasir, Emmy del Rosario, César Pérez, Nathalia Bonaparte, Melquisedec Acosta, Carolina Pérez, Diego Espaillat, Aleah Ogando, Isabel Castillo, Alfredo Cabrera, and Yoneidy Martínez.
Institutional Support and Opening Protocol
The opening ceremony featured formal remarks from UASD Recinto San Francisco Director General Rosa Francia Burgos, who welcomed the visiting delegations and officially opened the competition by executing the ceremonial first arrow. Martín Pantaleón, president of the city’s 248th-anniversary foundation commission, and Rafael Fernández delivered motivational addresses urging competitors to embrace sportsmanship and regional fraternity.
William Hernández, president of the Asociación Francomacorisana de Tiro con Arco, credited the collaborative efforts of the participating regions and the Federación Dominicana de Tiro con Arco (FEDOTA), led by Chemi Robiou, for the event's smooth execution.
Recognizing Pioneering Leadership
During the opening protocol, organizers presented a special parchment scroll to Manuel Barcón Quiñones, widely known as “El Gallego.” Barcón Quiñones served as the association’s first coach following its establishment in 2011. Accepting the honor, he expressed gratitude to the local community and emphasized that the recognition reinforces his ongoing commitment to developing archery talent throughout the country.
The gathering attracted numerous local and sports dignitaries, including Sonia María, northeast regional director for the Ministry of Sports and Recreation (MIDEREC); Bernardo Ortíz, secretary general of FEDOTA; Carlos Almánzar, president of the Association of Wholesale Merchants; Reynaldo Martínez, former president of the Duarte Province Sports Union; and Dr. José Joaquín Núñez Valerio, head of the provincial Sports Medicine Association.
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