Mexican recurve women start outdoor season with podium sweep

Alejandra Valencia, Aida Roman and Mariana Avitia won the recurve women’s silver medal at the last World Archery Championships in Mexico City in 2017. They’ll look to defend, even better, that later this summer in ’s-Hertogenbosch.

The season started well for the squad as they won the Mexican Grand Prix, the first world ranking event of the year, in Monterrey on 12-17 March.

As well as beating Brazilian trio Ane Marcelle Dos Santos, Graziela Paulino Dos Santos and Ana Luiza Sliatchicas to the team title in straight sets, the Mexican Olympians finished first, second and third in the individual event.

Valencia defeated Roman, 7-3, in the final; Avitia took bronze over Sliatchicas, 7-3.

The three Mexican women might be the most talented Olympic team as the road to Tokyo begins later this year. Aida won silver and Mariana bronze at London 2012, while Alejandra came fourth in Rio in 2016.

Valencia spoke earlier this year about the importance of testing themselves against other teams in the Americas ahead of the bulk of the season and the Lima 2019 Pan American Games, where the three women will also represent Mexico.

Other winners at the Mexican Grand Prix included Ricardo Soto and Alejandro Arriagada of Chile, and Mexico’s Brenda Merino in the compound women’s event.

More than 140 athletes took part in the event.

The tournament included competitions for cadet, junior, senior and master archers, and was a para world ranking event. Youth Olympic Champion Trenton Cowles of the USA was among the youth participants.

The Mexican Grand Prix took place in Monterrey, Mexico on 12-17 March 2019.