If we delve deep into the history of sports and sporting talent in India, we come to know that the passion to play various types of games has been prevalent since time immemorial in our country. In the Treta Yug, we find accounts of Lord Ram playing with his brothers and classmates not only in the Gurukul of Vashisht but also on the streets and playgrounds of Ayodhya.

In the age of Dwapar, we come across descriptions of the games played by Lord Krishna and his elder brother Balram, such as bow and arrow, gada (mace), seven stones played with a ball, and Mallakhambh, which were very popular in that period.

During the Buddhist era and thereafter, we also find accounts of the inclination of the youth towards excelling in various kinds of games and sports. During the reign of Hindu kings and emperors and later the Mughals, people were very passionate about sports of Indian origin. Chess (Shatranj) was commonly played in the courts and darbars of kings and emperors. Chaupad was also very popular in those days, and in the Mahabharata, Chaupad was played between the Kauravas and Pandavas, which led to great trouble.

With the advent of the British in India, some levels of sports infrastructure were created, but indigenous sports were neglected in the process. It was in this background that this association was created by people who loved sports and games and at the same time held our culture in high esteem, with the objective of providing a proper structure for organizing events.

ABSKA was created by sports persons of various categories, most of whom were above the age of 40 and were concerned that these traditional games should not lose their significance and must be handed over to the next generation. We are happy that we have been successful in generating awareness and interest towards these sports, and we are confident that this ancient heritage of our country is now protected.

The Honourable Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has also, on many occasions, stressed the importance of these traditional games. As a result, many national and international level federations have been created, and lakhs of children have become associated with traditional sports. The Government of India has been kind enough to provide jobs and awards to many sports and sportspersons who fall under the category of traditional sports.