Tip basket

The Cesta Punta is a sport of Basque origin. The name comes from the Basque zesta-punta, 'basket tip'. It is also called jai alai ("happy festival" in Basque).

This is a form of Basque pelota that is played with a wicker basket. In the basket-point, the ball is caught with the basket, momentum is gained and it is thrown towards the fronton. In this modality, the basket used has a weight that ranges between 200 and 600 g, its length being between 62 cm for the front ones and 68 cm for the rear ones (if the curvature of the lines is taken into account, these dimensions range between 90 and 110 cm) and, the depth of the basket cavity of 15 cm. The basket is made from chestnut wood, woven from wicker, however nowadays synthetic materials are used. The shape of the curved, concave, elongated and narrow basket is apparently a modification of the old top hat. It fits on the hand like a glove (tying it with a string) and is provided with a bag that helps retain the ball.

Sport of Basque origin, played on frontons, generally between 54 to 60 m. The main characteristic of the basket is to throw the ball with greater force and efficiency after picking it up and letting it slide to its end, from where it will be thrown against the fronton, trying to do "so much" to get the greatest number of points.

The usual modality is the game in pairs, the most prominent countries being France, Spain, Mexico, the Philippines and the United States (especially in Florida).

Professionals develop their seasons, mostly, in Mexico and the United States, except for the summer season, which is held in the Basque Country and France, with a professional circuit called the Jai Alai World Tour.

Top basket in the Basque Pelota World Cups

N.o	Year	Headquarters				Champions
I	1952	San Sebastián SpainSpain	SpainSpain	Mexico Mexico		M. Balet - J. Balet
II	1955	Montevideo Uruguay Uruguay	Mexico Mexico	SpainSpain		R. Montes - A. López
III	1958	Biarritz France	Mexico Mexico	SpainSpain		Azcue - José Hamui
IV	1962	Pamplona SpainSpain	Mexico Mexico	SpainSpain		Adrián Zubikarai - José Hamui
V	1966	Montevideo Uruguay Uruguay	Mexico Mexico	SpainSpain		Adrián Zubikarai - José Hamui
VI	1970	San Sebastián SpainSpain	France	SpainSpain	Mexico Mexico	Camy - Fourneau
VII	1974	Montevideo Uruguay Uruguay	France	Mexico Mexico	SpainSpain	J. Abeberry - J. Irazoqui
VIII	1978	Biarritz France	SpainSpain	Mexico Mexico	France	Izco - Abbey
IX	1982	Mexico Mexico Mexico	France	United States	SpainSpain	D. Michelena - J. Inchauspe
X	1986	Vitoria SpainSpain	France	SpainSpain	United States	Etxeverria - Jaime Eza
XI	1990	Cuba CubaCuba	SpainSpain	France	Mexico Mexico	A. Compañón - Mugartegui
XII	1994	Saint John of Light France	SpainSpain	Mexico Mexico	France	Lander - Osa
XIII	1998	Mexico Mexico Mexico	France	Mexico Mexico	SpainSpain	L. Garcia - E. Irastorza
XIV	2002	Pamplona SpainSpain	France	SpainSpain	Mexico Mexico	Garcia - Inza
XV	2006	Mexico Mexico Mexico	France	SpainSpain	Mexico Mexico	Garcia - Inza
XVI	2010	Pau France	France	Mexico Mexico	SpainSpain	Tambourindeguy - Etcheto
XVII	2014	Toluca Mexico Mexico	SpainSpain	France	Mexico Mexico	Pablo Lopez Polite-Yolanda Polite

Historical medal table

No.	Country				Total
1	France	8	2	2	12
2	SpainSpain	5	8	4	17
3	Mexico Mexico	4	6	5	15
4	United States	0	1	1	2
	Total	17	17	12	46

Top basket at the Olympic Games

N.o	Year	Headquarters				Champions
I	1900	Paris France	SpainSpain	France		José de Amézola and Francisco Villota
II	1924 (show sport)	Paris France	SpainSpain	France		Sagrana, Garate, Santamaria
III	1968 (show sport)	Mexico DF Mexico Mexico	SpainSpain	France	Mexico Mexico	Hnos. Mirapeix, Beascoechea and Arrien
IV	1992 (show sport)	Barcelona SpainSpain	SpainSpain	France	Mexico Mexico	Konpa, Atain, Celaya and Oianguren

Historical medal table

No.	Country				Total
1	SpainSpain	4	0	0	4
2	France	0	4	0	4
3	Mexico Mexico	0	0	2	2
	Total	4	4	2	10