The TWFI was founded by some Indian Armed Forces officers in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh in 1958.

The TWFI faced financial issues by 1980, and in the same year, requested that its management be taken over by a Delhi-based sports group.

The Federation's new administrative committee was headed by Gautam Kaul (Asiad Jyoti Awardee of the 1982 Asian Games), Hari Shankar Gupta (a youth leader in Delhi) and Madan Mohan (National Youth Awardee).

[5] The TWFI is active in attempting to spread the sport of tug of war in neighbouring countries.

The TWFI is also in the initial stages of establishing federations in The Maldives Republic, Afghanistan, Iran and Bhutan.