Guyana Makes History: Archery Guyana Successfully Hosts Inaugural Caribbean Archery Championships 2026

Friday, Oct 30

History was made in Guyana as Archery Guyana Inc. successfully hosted the Inaugural Caribbean Championships (CC) 2026 at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence, from October 22–25, bringing together the Caribbean and wider Americas in a landmark celebration of sporting excellence, regional cooperation and the development of archery.

For Guyana, hosting the first edition of the Caribbean Championships was about much more than targets, arrows and medals. It was an opportunity to welcome the regional archery family, showcase the country's hospitality, demonstrate its capacity to host international sporting events and provide athletes with an important platform to compete, learn and grow.

Hosted by the national federation, Archery Guyana Inc., under the auspices of World Archery Americas, the Championships brought together athletes, coaches, officials and supporters from across the Caribbean and Central America. Representatives of 18 countries were present, making the occasion a significant gathering for the regional archery community.

Competition featured the recurve, compound and barebow disciplines, with athletes demonstrating their preparation, skill, concentration and composure across the various categories. The Championships also created opportunities for developing athletes to gain international experience and establish relationships with their regional counterparts.

A historic opening ceremony

The Championships were officially opened on the evening of Thursday, October 22, 2026, at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence, in a ceremony befitting the historic occasion.

The ceremony was chaired by Mr. Franklin Wilson, Assistant Director of Sport, National Sports Commission. Addresses were delivered by Mr. Sergio Font, Secretary-General of World Archery Americas, and Mrs. Vidushi Persaud-McKinnon, President of Archery Guyana Inc.

The feature address was delivered by the Honourable Charles Ramson Jr., Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, who formally declared the inaugural Championships open.

A highlight of the evening was the Parade of the Nations, as flag-bearers proudly carried their national flags onto the field. The colourful display was a powerful expression of regional unity, friendship and sporting solidarity. With representatives of 18 countries in attendance, the ceremony demonstrated the reach and promise of the inaugural Championships.

Minister Ramson welcomed the visiting delegations on behalf of the Government and people of Guyana and reaffirmed the importance of sport in national development and the opportunities that archery offers to Guyanese athletes.

For Archery Guyana, the opening ceremony represented more than the start of competition. It was a proud moment for a national federation that has worked to develop the sport locally and create opportunities for Guyanese archers to participate meaningfully on the international stage.

In her opening remarks, President of Archery Guyana, Vidushi Persaud-McKinnon, expressed gratitude to His Excellency President Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali; the Honourable Charles Ramson Jr., Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport; the Honourable Steven Jacobs, Minister within the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport; Mr. Andrew Tyndall of the Ministry; the National Sports Commission; the Guyana Olympic Association, under the leadership of President Godfrey Munroe and its Executive Committee; World Archery Americas; participating federations; corporate sponsors; and the Local Organising Committee.

She emphasised that the Championships were about creating opportunities for developing athletes, showcasing regional talent and strengthening international sporting partnerships.

Reminding athletes that archery teaches discipline, resilience, patience and sportsmanship, she encouraged them to compete with integrity, humility and determination.

“The target measures your accuracy; your conduct reveals your character,” she told the athletes, underscoring that the true measure of sporting success extends beyond the medal table.

She reaffirmed Archery Guyana’s commitment to good governance, fairness and inclusion, and to expanding opportunities for young people, women and girls, and athletes with disabilities.

Adding a distinctly Guyanese touch to her remarks, she drew a connection between the country's national emblem and the sport, noting that the Golden Arrowhead reflects the spirit of archery and declaring that Guyana has been “pointing arrows in the right direction since 1966.”

She welcomed the visiting delegations and expressed the hope that the inaugural Championships would foster lasting friendships, shared learning and stronger regional cooperation as Caribbean nations work together to aim higher and build a brighter future for the sport.

Team Guyana delivers on home soil

The Guyanese contingent rose to the occasion, producing a commendable performance across individual, doubles and mixed-team events.

Guyanese archers were involved in 16 medal-winning event awards: four gold, nine silver and three bronze.

Of these, 12 medals were attributed to Guyana-only entries, comprising three gold, six silver and three bronze. A further four medals were won by combined-national teams involving Guyanese archers, in partnership with athletes from other participating delegations. These are recognised under their respective official team attributions and are not counted as Guyana-only team medals.

The results reflected the breadth of local talent across the recurve, compound and barebow disciplines. From the experienced senior competitors to the younger archers, Team Guyana demonstrated the benefit of consistent training, commitment and the opportunity to compete against regional opposition.

Guyana's Individual Medallists

Guyanese archers secured eight individual medals: two gold, five silver and one bronze.

Doublesmedals – Guyana-only teams

Guyana secured two bronze medals in the doubles events.

Doublesmedals – Combined national teams involving Guyana

Two additional medals were secured by combined-national teams involvingGuyanese archers.

These medals are recorded under the official combined-team attributions andare not Guyana-only doubles medals.

Mixed-Team medals – Guyana-only teams

Guyana secured two medals in the mixed-team events, comprising one gold andone silver.

Mixed-Team medals – Combined national teams involving Guyana

Two further silver medals were earned by combined-national teams involvingGuyanese archers.

Overall medal summary

The medal table tells only part of the story. Every athlete who represented Guyana gained valuable experience, faced new challenges and contributed to the development of archery in the country. Competing at home before family, friends and supporters made the experience particularly meaningful.

A collective achievement for Guyana

The successful hosting of an international championship is never the work of one organisation alone. It requires the commitment, cooperation and generosity of many individuals, agencies and partners.

Archery Guyana extends its sincere gratitude to the Government of Guyana, through the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, for its support and commitment to the development of sport and to creating opportunities for Guyanese athletes to compete and excel.

Special appreciation is extended to the Honourable Ministers, the Ministry's officials and the National Sports Commission, whose support and cooperation contributed to the successful delivery of the event.

We acknowledge the Guyana Olympic Association, under the leadership of President Godfrey Munroe and its Executive Committee, for its support and continued commitment to the development of Olympic sport in Guyana.

Archery Guyana also extends special thanks to Brigadier Omar Khan M.S.M., Chief of Defence Staff, and the Guyana Defence Force, for their invaluable assistance; Superintendent Mahendra Singh, Traffic Chief, and the Guyana Police Force, for their cooperation and assistance with the movement of delegations; and Dr. Ariane Mangar, Ms. Vanessa Wickham and the Guyana Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation Services, for their contribution to athlete welfare and support throughout the Championships.

Our heartfelt appreciation goes to Mr. Ganesh Singh, Chair of the National Commission on Disability, the Commission members and Mr. Lee Davis, for their assistance and commitment to accessibility and inclusion. Their contribution reinforces the importance of ensuring that international sport is welcoming and accessible to persons with disabilities.

We also recognise the contribution of the Guyana Tourism Authority and the Tourism and Hospitality Association, whose support helped reinforce the importance of sport tourism and the role of sporting events in showcasing Guyana to the wider region.

To the many volunteers, technical officials, judges, team managers, coaches, service providers, medical and support personnel, and members of the Local Organising Committee, we extend our sincere thanks. Much of the work that makes an event successful takes place away from the spotlight, and every contribution helped create a positive experience for the visiting delegations.

Thank you to our corporate partners and sponsors

The Championships would not have been possible without the generosity and support of our corporate sponsors and private-sector partners.

Archery Guyana extends its sincere appreciation to Guyana Beverages Inc. Oasis Water, Queensway Security, Cirkel Distributors, Elle & Vire, Massy Distribution, Frozen Delights, MVP Sports, Toucan Distributors, Seven Seas, International Business Services, Soldanza, Nature’s Heart, Service Guyana Inc., Orchard, Arka Supplies, Guyana China Friendship Society, The Chinese Association of Guyana.

Their contributions helped transform months of planning and preparation into a successful regional sporting event. We are grateful for your confidence in Archery Guyana and your willingness to invest in the development of sport.

More than a competition: showcasing Guyana to the region

The inaugural Championships provided a valuable opportunity to showcase Guyana not only as a sporting destination, but as a country proud of its people, culture, hospitality and potential.

The visiting delegations experienced the warmth of the Guyanese welcome and the enthusiasm of a nation committed to the growth of sport. The event also demonstrated the potential of sport tourism and the benefits that arise when sporting organisations, government agencies, businesses and volunteers work together.

For Archery Guyana, this first edition was both an honour and a responsibility. It demonstrated that the region can create meaningful opportunities for athletes, strengthen relationships between national federations and establish a stronger foundation for the future of archery.

The inaugural Caribbean Championships have now set the stage for what Archery Guyana hopes will become a lasting regional tradition.

Aiming higher, together

As the visiting delegations return home, Archery Guyana hopes that the friendships formed, lessons learned and experiences shared in Guyana will continue to strengthen the sport throughout the Caribbean.

To every athlete who competed, every coach who prepared a team, every official who ensured fair competition, every volunteer who gave of their time, and every supporter who cheered from the sidelines: thank you for being part of this historic first.

To our regional partners, thank you for placing your confidence in Guyana.

And to Guyana, this achievement is a reminder of what can be accomplished when we work together with a common purpose.

The first arrow has been released. The journey of the Caribbean Championships has begun, and together we can aim higher.