Morelos secured a strong presence on the national podium at the Campeonato Nacional de Tiro con Arco 2026, claiming team medals during the decisive finals held in Mexico City, according to official state sports reports. The competition gathered top-tier archery talent from across the country in high-demand recurve and compound divisions.
Máximo Méndez Ortiz Competes in Compound Final
The standout individual performance for Morelos came from Máximo Méndez Ortiz in the men’s compound division, as reported by the Instituto del Deporte y Cultura Física del Estado de Morelos (Indem). Méndez advanced through the tournament bracket to face Rodrigo González of Aguascalientes in a tightly contested title match.
Following a 145-point tie through regulation shooting, the final was decided by a sudden-death shoot-off arrow. González edged the contest with a 10-9 scoreline in the tiebreaker, leaving Méndez as the runner-up after a high-pressure duel.
Earlier in the event, Indem director Juan Felipe Domínguez Robles noted that Méndez established himself near the top of the standings during the opening qualification rounds held at the Centro Nacional de Desarrollo de Talentos Deportivos y Alto Rendimiento (CNAR). That initial form set the stage for his deep run into the medal rounds.
Men’s Recurve Team Secures Silver Medal
In team competition, the Morelos men’s recurve squad also reached the national final. The trio of Edgar Bahena, José Antonio de la Rosa, and Jesús Octavio García battled through the bracket to secure a silver medal for the state.
The final round pitted the Morelos team against the delegation representing the Estado de México. While the state representatives fell just short of the gold, Indem officials highlighted the consistency and discipline shown by the trio across the official 70-meter distance targets.
Alongside Bahena, García, and Méndez, fellow state competitor Tony Buendía also represented Morelos in the national tournament’s senior divisions, contributing to a broad state presence across both compound and recurve disciplines.
Development and Coaching Recognition
Indem officials emphasized that the podium finishes validate ongoing technical preparation within the state’s training programs. State representatives pointed to the work of coaches such as Lot Méndez in shaping new generations of competitive archers and preparing athletes to face elite national fields.
State sports administration figures noted that these national competitions serve as critical benchmarks for evaluating athlete progress, building competitive temperament, and refining technical skills ahead of upcoming regional and national sports cycles.
