During the recent long weekend, archers from Norte de Santander secured a silver medal in the U-15 mixed compound team event at the II Campeonato Nacional Interligas de Tiro con Arco in Medellín, finishing tenth overall in a tournament that drew 300 athletes from 13 regional leagues across Colombia, laopinion.com.co reported.
Silver Medal Won in Medellin
The competition served as a key selection qualifier for the XXII Juegos Nacionales scheduled for 2027 in Sincelejo and Montería. Held at the Unidad Deportiva de Belén archery field in the capital of Antioquia, the tournament featured male and female competitors across U-15, U-18, U-21, and senior divisions. Giselle Dávila Romero and Andy Joseph Mendoza Sandoval combined to capture Norte de Santander’s sole podium finish of the event, taking second place in the U-15 compound mixed team bracket behind host Antioquia, with Valle del Cauca rounding out the top three.
Standings and Individual Results
Antioquia dominated the overall medal table, collecting 17 golds, 11 silvers, and 11 bronzes for a total of 39 preseas. Valle del Cauca finished third with two golds, seven silvers, and four bronzes, while Norte de Santander placed tenth in the general classification. In the individual qualification rounds, Andy Mendoza took fourth and Daniela Ávila finished fifth in the U-15 compound division, while Andrés Pizarro placed seventh in U-15 recurve. In the U-21 category, Sarah González secured seventh place in compound competition. During elimination rounds, Mendoza advanced to the round of 16, Ávila reached the quarterfinals in compound, and Pizarro reached the quarterfinals in recurve. Additional mixed team pairings, including Allison Reyes and Andrés Pizarro in recurve alongside Sarah González and Juan Osorio in compound, pushed through to the quarterfinals.
Equipment Challenges and Training Limitations
Diego Vásquez, coach of the Norte de Santander archery league, described the team’s overall performance as positive despite adverse weather conditions and distinct competitive hurdles. Vásquez emphasized that staying competitive against dominant delegations requires technological upgrades that remain financially out of reach for many athletes in the department. According to Vásquez, upgrading equipment is difficult for the regional delegation, forcing competitors to rely on gear that quickly becomes obsolete compared to advanced technology used by wealthier leagues, with many updates funded directly by athletes’ parents. Despite these financial and material disadvantages, Norte de Santander has successfully qualified eight archers in compound and recurve disciplines for the upcoming national games.
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