Paleta frontón: the Peruvian sport picking up fans all over the world
Created in Lima, Peru, in 1945, Paleta Frontón was inspired by handball, but with the idea of hitting the ball against a wall. Since then, the sport has evolved and spread.
How did the sport start?
Since 1972, with the first interclub tournament, Paleta Frontón has become more popular. Today, Lima has over 1,000 courts and more than 10,000 players, both amateur and professional.
Growth of the sport in Peru
The sport is played on a court with a 5-meter high wall. The objective is to hit the ball against the wall in such a way that the opponent cannot return it.
How to play Paleta Frontón?
The serve must be cross-court, and a point is scored when the ball bounces twice on the ground or the opponent fails to return it. The match is played to 15 points (singles) or 21 points (doubles).
Main rules
After being included in the 2013 Bolivarian Games, the sport had its first international tournament in 2015. However, the big highlight came at the 2019 Pan American Games in Lima, with victories by Kevin Martínez and Claudia Suárez.
International expansion
Claudia Suárez, who started at the age of 9, is one of the sport's major figures. She follows the family tradition, with her father being one of the pioneers of Paleta Frontón in Peru.
Family tradition and pioneering
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