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Photos| Pelota: A handball-like favourite of Spain’s Basque country

Pelota Vasca is a sport popular to its native Basque region that overlaps northern Spain and southwestern France and was traditionally played in the village square facing a church, whose facade offered a perfect wall for players to hit the ball. Now it is a professional sport played indoors with organized tournaments in northern Spain played by individuals or doubles, where many spectators bet on the winner.

Updated on: Mar 27, 2019 10:09 AM IST

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Diego Iturriaga, 27, a player of Basque Ball known as “pelotari”, holds Basque Balls as he poses at Labrit court or fronton, in Pamplona, northern Spain. With their hands protected by layers of tightly-bound tape, the players take turns swatting a small, hard ball at speeds that reach 115 kilometers per hour. (Alvaro Barrientos / AP)

Updated on Mar 27, 2019 10:09 AM

Diego Iturriaga, 27, a player of Basque Ball known as “pelotari”, holds Basque Balls as he poses at Labrit court or fronton, in Pamplona, northern Spain. With their hands protected by layers of tightly-bound tape, the players take turns swatting a small, hard ball at speeds that reach 115 kilometers per hour. (Alvaro Barrientos / AP)

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Basque Ball player or “pelotari” Victor Esteban, returns the ball during a match. They’re playing a match of Pelota Vasca, or “Basque Ball,” a sport popular to its native Basque region that overlaps northern Spain and southwestern France. The game is similar to squash, but played without a racket and with only three walls. (Alvaro Barrientos / AP)

Updated on Mar 27, 2019 10:09 AM

Basque Ball player or “pelotari” Victor Esteban, returns the ball during a match. They’re playing a match of Pelota Vasca, or “Basque Ball,” a sport popular to its native Basque region that overlaps northern Spain and southwestern France. The game is similar to squash, but played without a racket and with only three walls. (Alvaro Barrientos / AP)

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Javier Bariain shows an old photograph of a Basque Ball match, at his store in Pamplona, northern Spain. Pelota Vasca was traditionally played in the village square facing a church, whose facade offered a perfect wall for players to hit the ball. (Alvaro Barrientos / AP)

Updated on Mar 27, 2019 10:09 AM

Javier Bariain shows an old photograph of a Basque Ball match, at his store in Pamplona, northern Spain. Pelota Vasca was traditionally played in the village square facing a church, whose facade offered a perfect wall for players to hit the ball. (Alvaro Barrientos / AP)

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Basque Balls items are displayed at a store in Pamplona. Now it is a professional sport played indoors with organized tournaments in northern Spain played by individuals or doubles, where many spectators bet on the winner. (Alvaro Barrientos / AP)

Updated on Mar 27, 2019 10:09 AM

Basque Balls items are displayed at a store in Pamplona. Now it is a professional sport played indoors with organized tournaments in northern Spain played by individuals or doubles, where many spectators bet on the winner. (Alvaro Barrientos / AP)

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Different models of Basque balls are displayed for sale at a store. The handmade ball was originally made from a small hard plastic core bound with strips of cat intestine and wool thread, with an outer layer made of dried sheep skin. Today the balls go through a more industrial process, with synthetic materials being used. (Alvaro Barrientos / AP)

Updated on Mar 27, 2019 10:09 AM

Different models of Basque balls are displayed for sale at a store. The handmade ball was originally made from a small hard plastic core bound with strips of cat intestine and wool thread, with an outer layer made of dried sheep skin. Today the balls go through a more industrial process, with synthetic materials being used. (Alvaro Barrientos / AP)

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Players, called “pelotari,” can spend an hour before a match preparing their hands. They coat their fingers and palms with a wax covering that they first heat up with a flame. Then they wrap each finger in layers of tape and some thin foam padding to reduce the risk of injury. (Alvaro Barrientos / AP)

Updated on Mar 27, 2019 10:09 AM

Players, called “pelotari,” can spend an hour before a match preparing their hands. They coat their fingers and palms with a wax covering that they first heat up with a flame. Then they wrap each finger in layers of tape and some thin foam padding to reduce the risk of injury. (Alvaro Barrientos / AP)

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Players of Basque Ball hold balls on their hands protected by layers of tightly-bound tape. Other varieties can be played with a racket or a hoop, but the traditional style is just to whack the ball with the open hand. (Alvaro Barrientos / AP)

Updated on Mar 27, 2019 10:09 AM

Players of Basque Ball hold balls on their hands protected by layers of tightly-bound tape. Other varieties can be played with a racket or a hoop, but the traditional style is just to whack the ball with the open hand. (Alvaro Barrientos / AP)

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Victor Esteban, 25, a player of Basque Ball, returns the ball on a Labrit court or fronton. The players bend backward like tennis players taking a serve to generate power. The sport can often be painful, making players grimace when they strike the ball incorrectly. (Alvaro Barrientos / AP)

Updated on Mar 27, 2019 10:09 AM

Victor Esteban, 25, a player of Basque Ball, returns the ball on a Labrit court or fronton. The players bend backward like tennis players taking a serve to generate power. The sport can often be painful, making players grimace when they strike the ball incorrectly. (Alvaro Barrientos / AP)

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The impact of the ball is clearly heard in the stands. As a trophy, the winner of the annual championship is awarded a large green Basque beret, called the “Txapela.” The champion is called the “Txapeldun.” (Alvaro Barrientos / AP)

Updated on Mar 27, 2019 10:09 AM

The impact of the ball is clearly heard in the stands. As a trophy, the winner of the annual championship is awarded a large green Basque beret, called the “Txapela.” The champion is called the “Txapeldun.” (Alvaro Barrientos / AP)

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