In 1945, almost eight decades ago, paleta frontón was created in the Regatas de Lima club, born of a derivative of handball (balonmano in Spanish). In that sport, the game was also played with a ball, only it was bigger with the aim being to score in the opponent’s goal. However, when faced with a wall, the players realised that hitting the ball initially with the hand, then with something similar to a paddle, was also a lot of fun.
Thus was born what is known as paleta frontón. This sport has evolved over time, as it is now played with fibre or glass paddles, whereas before they were made of wood. Back in the 1940s, the first ones were made from the wood of whisky barrels and the balls used were tennis balls, but without the familiar green fluff.
20 years later, in 1968, the first concrete wall was built for the sport, playing with paddles that were imported from another South American country. It was starting to become professionalised. A few years later, in Costa Rica they also began hitting the rubber ball against the wall, even starting to organise competitions in La Guaria.
The first interclub tournament in Peru was held in 1972 at the Country Club de Villa in Chorrillos, and eleven years later, in 1983, the first national championship was held. In its first edition there were 25 affiliated clubs, yet nowadays there are several more in tournaments decentralised all over Peru, with more than a thousand active players.
There are regional championships, champions of champions, in addition to the national tournaments, which helps its dissemination and growth in Peru. In the capital Lima, there are more than 1,000 courts, with an estimated 10,000 people who play the sport, either as amateurs or professionals.
