Who We Are
About Us
History and Activities of the Amateur Baseball Federation of India
Baseball game was introduced in our country by the Amateur Baseball Federation of India. The Federation was established inDecember 1983 with an object to promote this game. On 11th December 1983 some Baseball lovers from Delhi, Manjpur, Haryana, Gujarat, M.P and West Bengal met at Rohtak (Haryana) and agreed to form a baseball federation to promote baseball game through out the country. The Baseball Leaders also agreed that the Federation should become a member of Asian baseball Federation and International Baseball Association. The leading persons at that time were Mr.P.C. Bhardwaj ( Delhi ) and Mr. E.Bijoy Singh (Manipur). Mr.P.C.Bhardwaj (Delhi) was appointed as Hony. Secretary and given responsibility to approach Asian and International Baseball Authority for membership.
On 16th Sept. 1984 a seminar was organized to discuss the basic bylaws and to hold the Ist National Baseball Championship to popularize this game, An application was moved to International Baseball Association for Affiliation. An extraordinary Congress and 13th Baseball Asia Championship Series was to be held from 19th Jan. 1985 to 31 Jan. 1985 at Perth (Australia). Mr.P.C Bhardwaj Hony. Secretary A.B.F.I Attended the 13th Asian Baseball Championship Series at Perth. ABFI was approved as a member of B.F.A on 19th Jan 1985 at Seoul. Indian Olympic Association also recognized Amateur Baseball Federation of India.
Ist National Baseball Championship was organized by Baseball Association, Delhi from 25th Feb to 28th Feb 1985 at New Delhi. The Federation also introduced this game for women. A.B.F.I was deeply grateful to B.F.A for providing the Baseball equipment.
The Federation is determined to promote Baseball game through out the country. At present 26 States/UT are the affiliated member of the Federation. The federation has organized 24 Senior National Baseball Championship, 21 Junior National Championship, 19Sub-junior National Championship, apart from 11 National Little League Tournament between 11-13 years age group. The Indian team won Bronze medal in 1995 & Silver medal in 1999 in the Asian Cup Baseball championship at Internationals Level. Indian team also participated in “AA” and “AAA” Championship held at Seoul and Taiwan in which Indian team performance was appreciable. The federation has been sending participants under 11 years in the world children Baseball Fair on the invitation from WCBF. The Indian woman team recently participated in 3rd woman world cup at Matsuyama, Japan in 2008.
The Baseball game has been included in the school game by the School Games Federation of India since 1998. The Federation succeeded to introduced Baseball game at Grass Route Level. Sports Authority of India has introduced certificate course for Baseball Coaches at N.I.S Patiala.
A.B.F.I.’s most urgent task is to make Baseball Tremendously popular in India. The Federation will do its level best to achieve the goal.
Baseball India at a Glance
- The Amateur Baseball Federation of India was formed in Dec. 1983.
- First National Baseball Championship was organised in Feb. 1985 at New Delhi.
- The Federation was affiliated with the Baseball Federation of Asia & International Baseball Federation in 1985.
- The Federation was recognised as National Federation by the Ministry of YIA & Sports, Govt. of India in 1991.
- The Indian team participated in the Asian Baseball Championship in 1987 at Tokyo & in 1989 at Seoul.
- The Indian Baseball Team won Bronze Medal in Ist Asian Cup Baseball Championship in 1995 held at Manila, Phillipines.
- The Federation organised 3rd Asian Cup Baseball Championship in 1999 at Chandigarh and got Silver Medal.
- The Federation has send baseball team under 11yr., 15 yr. & 17 yr. in the Asian Baseball Championship held at Tokyo, Seoul and Taiwan in which Indian team performed well.
- The Baseball game was introduced in School National Game in 1999 by School Games Federation of India.
- The Federation was recognised by Indian Olympic Association in 2002.
- SAI introduced Certificate Course for baseball in NIS in 2003.
- Indian Women Team participated in the World Women Baseball Series held in Japan in 2004 & Women’s World Cup in 2008. At present Indian Women Team stands under 10th ranking in the world as per International Baseball Federation.
- The baseball game has been included in the Inter Universities Sports Competition by Association of Indian University (AIU) in 2006.
- The Federation invited baseball coaches from U.S.A., South Korea, & Japan time to time to prepare the national team before participation in the International Tournament. Major League Baseball has been sending coaches to conduct Baseball Clinic since 2003.
- At present more than forty thousand players are playing baseball in the country. In 2008, two players Mr. Rinku Singh and Mr. Dinesh Kumar Patel were selected by MLB among thirty seven thousand participants. Mr. Rinku Singh got Rs. 40 lacs Cash Award and Contract in the MLB. He became Ist Indian Professional Baseball Player in America.
- The Federation organized 26th National Championship for Senior, 23rd National Championship for Junior (15-17 years), 22nd National Championship for Sub-Junior (13-15 years), 13th Little League Baseball Tournament between 11-13 Years age group apart from Zonal, Inter Zonal, Invitational, Federation Cup and Cash Award Prize Money Tournament for the promotion and development of Baseball.
