After a difficult year in which Archery competition has been largely absent, Canada has returned to the field with a great week of results at the Pan American Championships and Olympic/Paralympic Continental Qualifier.

Tania Edwards of Aurora, Ont and Stephanie Barrett of Mississauga, Ont., competed in the Continental Qualifier in Monterrey, Mexico seeking to earn an individual quota place for the Canadian Women recurve program. Following their performances in the elimination matches on Saturday afternoon, Canada, along with Brazil and Ecudor has secured that quota place.

“The women’s program has shown they can take on adversity and rise up to the challenge,” said team coach, Linda Price of BC. “They are ready to begin preparing for the final World Cup in Paris and then on to Tokyo.”

“The conditions were tricky, but it was great to out there with such great competitors, at a well run event,” said silver medallist Stephanie Barrett. “It was super exciting to be back competing internationally, and I am thrilled to have hit the podium and how well the team came together.” Bronze medallist Tania Edwards couldn’t agree more. “I was really proud of our ladies team and thrilled to be on the podium this early in the season. It’s been a rough year and I’m happy that I was able to get to where I was today. The journey is not over. The women want to have a chance at a team at the final qualification tournament in Paris. We have put in the work and it’s showing in the results.”

Canada had already qualified one men’s recurve place for Tokyo 2020, following the performances at the 2019 Pan American Games in Lima, and was seeking to secure at least one spot each for women’s recurve and Para Archery. Karen Van Nest secured that quota place for Canada on Friday morning.

The final qualifying event for both individuals and teams, where countries can upgrade to full three-athlete quotas in each gender, will take place alongside the third stage of the 2021 Hyundai Archery World Cup in Paris, France June 21-27. For Para Archery, this final qualification opportunity will take place at the Czech Para Archery World Ranking Event to be held in Nove Mesto, Czech Republic, July 3-10.