Durango honored local pelota player Helena Barrenetxea on Saturday after she secured the silver medal in the women’s individual cesta punta world championship, as reported by elcorreo.com. The recognition event took place at the Ezkurdi Jai Alai fronton, drawing local fans and young athletes who turned out to celebrate the milestone in women’s Basque pelota.
Flight Delays Push Back the Official Reception in Durango
The celebration faced scheduling hurdles before it even began. According to reporting from dotb.eus, the official reception scheduled for 6:00 p.m. suffered a delay due to a flight issue during Barrenetxea’s journey from Madrid. Despite the schedule disruption, local supporters and neighbors gathered inside the Ezkurdi Jai Alai fronton to welcome the runner-up.
Local Clubs Host Youth Quinielas and Bizkaia Championship Matches
elcorreo.com noted that the tribute was organized jointly by Durango Uria Jai Alai—Barrenetxea’s current club—and Ezkurdi Jai Alai, the local institution where she first learned to play the sport. The afternoon featured several quinielas played by young members of the club’s academy. Following the youth exhibitions, organizers held official matches for the Bizkaia cesta punta championship, featuring a mix of junior and senior club players.
Fronton Reception Highlights Growth of Women’s Cesta Punta
The community gathering served as both a tribute to Barrenetxea’s career and a celebration of her performance at the international showcase held in Argentina and Uruguay, as detailed by elcorreo.com. Dotb.eus added that the turnout cemented Barrenetxea’s status as a leading figure in women’s pelota within the municipality, offering local youths a clear example of elite achievement in the discipline.
