Enriquez, Machado ‘ready’ for Pan Am Champs – and Olympic qualifying – after wins at Marica ranking event
Jorge Enriquez (Colombia), Ana Machado (Brazil), and El Salvadorean compound duo Sofia Paiz and Miguel Angel Veliz took individual gold medals during today’s finals at the South American world ranking event in Marica, Brazil.
The event was a warm-up for Olympic hopefuls, with regional qualification continuing at the Pan Am Championships in Medellin in less than two weeks.
“It’s the goal,” said Enriquez, the number three seed who saw off Argentinian Mario Jajarabilla in a five-set recurve men’s final. His path to the final was opened up when world number one – and top seed – Marcus D’Almeida was upset by Oscar Ticas in the quarterfinals.
“It’s been four years focused exclusively on Paris 2024,” continued Enriquez. “This event leaves me with a great feeling. It’s prepared us very well for Medellin.”
Colombia has not yet secured a men’s quota for the upcoming Games, though it has a women’s, Brazil has one for each gender. Both nations will be pursuing the team ticket that comes with the Pan Am Champion title.
“Our goal is to get that team spot so that three girls can go,” said Machado, after beating Brazilian compatriot Ana Teodoro in the recurve women’s final, 6-4. “We’ve grown a lot over the years and nowadays we’re very united.”
“We have a very strong team and, mentally speaking, we’re much better, much stronger. So I think we’re definitely ready.”
Machado also finished second in the South American Championship event, which concluded yesterday. D’Almeida was one of the winners in that bracket.
The international outdoor season officially opens on 1 April, with the Pan Am Championships and continental Olympic qualifier running 8-14 April, before the opening stage of the 2024 Hyundai Archery World Cup in Shanghai in the penultimate week of the month.
Replay the finals from Marica and watch live all season on archery+.
Winners: South American ranking event
- Recurve men: Jorge Enriquez, Colombia
- Recurve women: Ana Machado, Brazil
- Compound men: Miguel Angel Veliz, El Salvador
- Compound women: Sofia Paiz, El Salvador
