This study aims to examine the transformation of traditional sports and games among Central Asian (Turkestan) peoples from Kyrgyzstan’s independence in 1991 to the present, with a specific focus on the Kyrgyz case. In the post-Soviet period, within the broader framework of nation-building processes, traditional sports have emerged as strategic instruments in redefining cultural identity and emphasizing historical continuity. The research was conducted using qualitative methods through natural observation and examination. In particular, the World Nomad Games (WNG) have significantly enhanced the global visibility of Kyrgyz traditional sports; equestrian competitions, various forms of wrestling, and folk games have undergone processes of re-institutionalization and formal organization. The study analyses the functions of traditional sports within the context of state policies, cultural heritage discourse, national identity construction, and international recognition strategies. Furthermore, the articulation of these sports with the modern sports industry, the dynamics of commercialization, and participation trends among younger generations are evaluated from a sociological perspective. The findings demonstrate that traditional sports are reproduced not merely as folkloric elements, but as active instruments of national identity formation, cultural diplomacy, and social cohesion. In this regard, the case of Kyrgyzstan offers a distinctive model for understanding the post-Soviet transformation of traditional sports in Turkestan.