Cestoball is a dynamic team sport that originated in
Argentina
Argentina, officially the Argentine Republic, is a country in the southern half of South America. It covers an area of , making it the List of South American countries by area, second-largest country in South America after Brazil, the fourt ...
in 1897, developed by Professor Enrique Romero Brest, a pioneer in Argentine physical education. Initially called ''pelota al cesto'' (ball to basket), it was officially incorporated into the national physical education curriculum in 1903. The sport underwent modernization in 1986, evolving to include faster gameplay and higher engagement, leading to its rebranding as Cestoball.
Cestoball is played on a rectangular court measuring 28 by 16 meters, with a basket located at each end. Each team fields six players on the court, with a total roster of 12 players to allow for substitutions. Unlike
basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams, most commonly of five players each, opposing one another on a rectangular Basketball court, court, compete with the primary objective of #Shooting, shooting a basketball (ball), basketball (appro ...
, the ball in Cestoball does not bounce, and players advance it through passing. The objective is to score by shooting the ball into the opponent's basket, which is uniquely positioned five meters from the end line, allowing for scoring from all sides.
In recent years, Cestoball has gained traction internationally, particularly in regions such as
Asia
Asia ( , ) is the largest continent in the world by both land area and population. It covers an area of more than 44 million square kilometres, about 30% of Earth's total land area and 8% of Earth's total surface area. The continent, which ...
and
Africa
Africa is the world's second-largest and second-most populous continent after Asia. At about 30.3 million km2 (11.7 million square miles) including adjacent islands, it covers 20% of Earth's land area and 6% of its total surfac ...
. In
India
India, officially the Republic of India, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by area, seventh-largest country by area; the List of countries by population (United Nations), most populous country since ...
, the sport is being promoted by enthusiasts like Mohamed Aquib from Bangalore, who helped establish the Cestoball Federation of India and the Asian Cestoball Federation. These organizations aim to secure recognition from national sports authorities and the Indian Olympic Association, with efforts to integrate the sport into school and university programs.
References
{{Team sports
Ball games
Team sports
Games and sports introduced in 1897
Sport in Argentina
Sports originating in Argentina