Five new countries selected for World Games after Pan American Championships

Jorge JIMENEZ, World Cup Final 2007 winner Chilean archer Denisse VAN LAMOEN won the recurve women's individual gold medal in the Pan American Championships held in El Salvador in a shoot-off versus Colombia’s top archer Ana Maria RENDON. The Compound Match Round was used as the Continental Qualifier for the World Games to be held in Cali, Colombia in 2013, for both men and women. VAN LAMOEN's arrow in the ten-ring gave her the continental title. She had ranked first in the FITA Round with a score of 1333 points. Leidys BRITO (VEN) defeated Ulsan 2009 World Championships bronze medalist Natalia SANCHEZ (COL) 7-3 to win the third place for her country. On the recurve men’s side, Mexican junior Ernesto BOARDMAN took the gold as he beat Colombia’s Andres PILA 7-3 in the final match. PILA had won an Olympic spot for his country in the Continental Qualifier held in April in Medellin. Dan SCHULLER (USA) edged Hector SANSORES (MEX) 6-4 to win the bronze. The Compound Match Round was used as the Continental Qualifier for the World Games to be held in Cali, Colombia in 2013. Several world class compound archers were present to fight for the six spots that were up for grabs (three women and thre men). El Salvador won two positions in the men’s competition as Roberto HERNANDEZ and local idol Jorge JIMENEZ ranked first and second. The third spot went to Colombia by means of Francisco ROJAS who overwhelmed Mexico’s Hafid Jaime 144-138 in the bronze match. The biggest surprise was that the strong team from the USA headed by World Cup winner Rodger WILLETT Jr. did not win a spot. The compound ladies round was dominated by Venezuela’s Ana MENDOZA who defeated Sarah LANCE (USA) 142-135 for the gold. A strong battle was waged by the bronze match contenders. Alejandra USQUIANO (COL) shot a score that was one point higher than her Mexican opponent Stephanie SALINAS (143-142) and secured the second spot of the day for her country. As Colombia will be the host country, they will now have two representatives in each compound category at the World Games, one each for being the host and the second ones due to their performance in the Continental Qualifier. The six team's gold medals were won by five different countries. Only Mexico managed to win two titles: the compound mixed round followed by El Salvador and the USA, and the compound women’s team sharing the podium with Venezuela (second) and the USA (third). Venezuela was first in the recurve mixed round where Chile and Colombia were second and third. The United States, Mexico and Colombia topped the recurve men’s team competition, while Colombia, the USA and Mexico led the recurve women’s event. El Salvador defeated Mexico 30-29 in a shoot-off for gold in the compound men’s team contest to leave top ranked USA with the bronze medal. Summary of Places for World Games 2013 in Cali: Ø Compound Men Ø Compound Women Sergio FONT World Archery Communication