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Valencia to lead new-look Mexican squad towards Olympics in 2024

10 March 2024

Mexico City, Mexico

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Mexico has named its recurve squad for the 2024 Hyundai Archery World Cup season – and world number three Alejandra Valencia is the oldest on the team at just 29 years old.

She’s joined in the women‘s line-up by 17-year-old Angela Ruiz and reigning Pan American Champion Ana Vazquez (23).

Mexico already has its full women’s quota for the Paris 2024 Olympics and this line-up is expected to head to the Games later this summer.

However, there is a provision for replacements to be called up from the second team – Olympic medallists Aida Roman and Mariana Avitia, and Valentina Vazquez – in case they don’t produce results in the lead-up.

Mexico also has one men’s ticket to the upcoming Olympics, courtesy of last year’s Pan American Games runner-up Matias Grande, who is just 19.

He’ll lead teammates Carlos Rojas (24) and Bruno Martinez (26) as the trio attempts to upgrade to a squad quota. Their next opportunity is by winning the Pan American Championships early in April.

Mexico’s recurve archers – particularly the women – have become a force on the international circuit, particularly over the last decade-plus since Aida Roman and Mariana Avitia finished second and third at the London 2012 Olympics.

The squad made another leap in 2023, winning their first recurve women’s team title at a stage of the Hyundai Archery World Cup.

That result in Antalya heralded the arrival of youngster Angela Ruiz, who subsequently finished runner-up individually at the next leg of the world tour in Medellin, forcing dominant Korean rookie Lim Sihyeon to a tiebreak despite her inexperience at just 16.

Over three stages of trials held over the past two months in Mexico City, Ruiz – and the rest of the young team – have continued to impress. The average age of the squad is 23.

And with veterans like Roman, Avitia and Luis Alvarez, who paired with Alejandra Valencia to win mixed team bronze at the last Olympics in Tokyo, waiting in the wings as the reserve line-up, Mexico is perhaps better poised than ever to make a run at big results in the 2024 season.

The Mexican squad’s first international is the Pan American Championships on 10-14 April in Medellin, Colombia.