Archers from Chile, Cuba, El Salvador, Guatemala, Ecuador and the Dominican Republic began to compete on Monday in Varadero, a resort 150 miles away from Cuban capital Havana, local media said on Monday.

The event will run until Saturday and will offer points in the world-wide archery rankings, for men and women and across a range of bow types.

Cuba archers include Juan Carlos Stevens, Maydenia Sarduy, Yaremis Perez and Ismelis Arias who will lead the ladies crossbow team, trained by Jorge Antonio Millan and Vladimir Quinta.

Lisvany Fardalis, Liesky Cordero and Rafael Fernandez, alongside Yumurian Ismari Santos and Odania Camero will lead the mixed compound bow team trained by Eduardo Marrero and Dionel Brito.

The competition will help Cuba's archers to compete in the 20th Caribbean and Central American Games which takes place in Cartagena, Colombia on July 15 to July 30, 2006.

Source: Xinhua